Village and neighbourhood councils would be established under the People's Local Government Ordinance (PLGO) 2012, to run the matters of villages and some groups of adjoining areas, Business Recorder learnt here on Sunday.
It was mentioned in the chapter No-IX village and neighbourhood councils of PLGO 2012, copy available with Business Recorder which stated that: 100. Declaration of village and neighbourhood Councils.- Upon a proposal of the Taluka Municipal Administration or Town Municipal Administration, as the case may be - the Taluka Council may determine and declare by notification a village or a neighbourhood in urban areas in the Taluka, to have a village council or, as the case may be, neighbourhood council, and number of members to be elected for such councils; and the Town Council may determine and declare by notification a neighbourhood or a village in the rural areas in the town, to have a neighbourhood Council or, as the case may be, village Council, and number of members to be elected for such Councils;
101. Composition of village Council and neighbourhood Council.- (1) The number of members of village Council and neighbourhood Council shall be five to eleven members each: Provided that for each Council one seat shall be reserved for women and one seat for peasants and workers.
(2) The village Council and neighbourhood Council shall each be headed by a Chairman who shall be the person securing highest number of votes in the election of village Council or, as the case may be, neighbourhood Council.
(3) The Union Chairman shall allocate the work relating to the village Councils and neighbourhood Councils in the Union amongst the secretaries posted in the Union Administration.
(4) Every village Council and neighbourhood Council shall be a body corporate.
102. Election of village Council and neighbourhood Council.- (1) The Taluka Municipal Administration and Town Municipal Administration may after declaration of villages and neighbourhoods conduct the elections of village Councils and neighbourhood Councils as may be prescribed.
(2) District Council shall facilitate and provide necessary support to the Taluka Municipal Administration and Town Municipal Administration in the elections of village and neighbourhood Councils.
(3) Where a Taluka Council or Town Council does not make declaration referred to in section 93 or where a Taluka Municipal Administration or, as the case may be, Town Municipal Administration fails to conduct elections of village Councils or neighbourhood Councils within ninety days referred to in sub-section (1), District Council may make such declaration or, as the case may be, conduct the elections of the village Councils and neighbourhood Councils within thirty days from the declaration made by it.
(4) The vacancies of the members of the Village Council or, as the case may be, neighbourhood Council referred to in section 93 shall be filled in by the persons securing highest number of votes.
(5) The term of office of the village Council and neighbourhood Council shall correspond to the term of office of the Union Council concerned provided that the village Council and neighbourhood Council shall continue in office until replaced by a new village Council or, a neighbourhood Council, as the case may be.
103. Functions of village Council and neighbourhood Council.- (1) The functions of the village and neighbourhood Councils shall be to -
(a) develop and improve water supply sources;
(b) make arrangements for sanitation, cleanliness and disposal of garbage and carcasses;
(c) develop sites for drinking and bathing of cattle;
(d) take measures to prevent contamination of water;
(e) prevent and abate nuisances in public ways, public streets and public places;
(f) organise watch and ward in the village and neighbourhood through unarmed village or neighbourhood guards;
(g) organise village and neighbourhood sports teams, cultural and recreational activities;
(h) mobilise voluntary resources, including physical labour, property and cash contributions for municipal activities in the village and neighbourhood;
(i) facilitate the formation of co-operatives for improving economic returns and reduction of interstitial poverty and consumer protection;
(j) report cases of handicapped, destitute, and of extreme poverty to the Union Administration;
(k) mobilise the community involvement in maintenance of public streets, play grounds, parks, culverts and public buildings, de-silting of canals and watercourses; and
(l) promote plantation of trees, landscaping and beautification of the village and neighbourhood.
(2) The village Council and neighbourhood Council shall assist Union Administration in -
(a) conducting surveys in the village and neighbourhood and collecting socio-economic data;
(b) selecting sites for providing municipal facilities and services to the village or neighbourhood;
(c) identifying encroachments;
(d) managing burial places and cremation grounds of the village;
(e) managing and lighting of village or neighbourhood roads, streets, and paths; and
(f) collecting land revenue and other taxes.
(3) A village Council or neighbourhood Council may, subject to such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed, entrust any of its functions to the Union Administration: Provided that responsibility for discharge of such functions shall continue to vest with the village Council or, as the case may be, neighbourhood Council: Provided further that no function or responsibility shall be transferred without allocation of corresponding resources and funds.
104. village Council and neighbourhood Council to develop facilities.- (1) The village Council and neighbourhood Council may, with funds raised through voluntary contributions or on self-help basis, develop and maintain municipal and community welfare facilities.
(2) Village Council and neighbourhood Council shall facilitate creation of the citizen community boards for development and maintenance of municipal and community welfare facilities.