Activists propose suggestions for Cantt Amendment Bill

Aurangabad

: The ministry of defence, Government of India, had sought suggestions, especially from residents of Cantonment areas, for drafting the proposed Cantonment Amendment Bill, 2020, which aims at greater democratisation, modernisation and efficiency in the administration.

Cantonment Jan Adhikar Manch (CJAM)— a network of activists and people residing in different Cantonments in India—held a discussion last week in which activists and experts discussed various suggestions that can be proposed to the government for the Cantonment Amendment Bill, 2020.

According to CJAM convenor Sunil Maske, the Estimate Committee of Parliament (1956-57) under Balwant Rai Mehta recommended that the local self-government strictly be under the state administration as the subject mainly falls under list II of the Seventh schedule of the Constitution of India. It further suggested that the Army should be given representation or right to have a say on any decision of the local authority. Currently, the local-self government of the Cantonment is under the defence ministry of the Government of India.

Savita Jadhav from the CJAM advisory committee said that if Cantonment Board was considered a municipality, it should be administered like one. A suggestion was made to include the state government in the governance of the Cantonments so that schemes of social welfare, public health, hygiene, safety, water supply, sanitation, urban renewal and education can be implemented. “We want the CEO of the Cantonment Board to be accountable for the development of the residents,” said Jadhav adding that the boards should get grants and allocation both from the Centre and the state.

The Cantonment Board is presided by a military officer and comprises of nominated members, elected members and district magistrate. Activists have proposed that the president should be an elected member and not an ex-officio member and the tehsildar be made an additional member of the board. This would help better reach of the schemes to the people.