The Gujarat government has taken a significant step towards enhancing legislative oversight and public accountability by forming 13 standing consultative committees. Announced on Wednesday, these panels will be led by cabinet ministers and ministers of state with independent charge.
Structure and Mandate of the New Committees
All Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) from Gujarat have been included in these committees, as per an official government release. The primary function of each committee will be to deliberate on matters concerning the implementation of departmental policies, issues of general public importance, and citizen-centric concerns.
The official statement clearly outlined the scope, noting that the committees will not entertain personal matters of officers, individual cases, or issues that can be resolved by officers under existing rules. Furthermore, matters that are sub-judice or pending before courts will also be outside the purview of these panels.
Composition and Key Chairpersons
The committees are set to function for the entire term of the present state cabinet. Their meetings are scheduled to be held once every three months, or more frequently if the chairperson deems it necessary.
The first and foremost committee will be headed by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel himself. It comprises 16 ministers and MLAs, along with three MPs. Other notable panels include the second committee, which consists of 18 members including Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and three MPs.
Key ministers leading other committees are Finance Minister Kanu Desai (third committee), Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani (fourth committee), Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel (fifth committee), and Labour Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya (sixth committee).
Committees Headed by Ministers of State
The government has also constituted committees under Ministers of State (MoS). These include the 11th committee headed by MoS for Water Resources Ishwarsinh Patel, the 12th committee chaired by MoS for Health Praful Pansheriya, and the 13th panel led by MoS for Women and Child Welfare Manisha Vakil.
The complete list of committees reflects a wide-ranging inclusion of legislators across various departments such as tribal development, forest and environment, food and civil supplies, and more.
Objective and Expected Impact
The formation of these standing consultative committees is seen as a move to foster better coordination between the executive and the legislature. By involving all MLAs and MPs, the government aims to create a structured platform for feedback and discussion on policy execution.
This initiative is expected to streamline governance, address public grievances more effectively, and ensure that the implementation of government schemes and policies is continuously monitored and reviewed by elected representatives. The quarterly meeting schedule promises regular engagement and oversight.
