The initiative appears logical. The chairman of the northern district council, Ranjiv Woochit, is thinking of levying a Rs 30 community service fee on inhabitants of the district. But he makes it clear that such a payment will apply only to those who have the means to pay. “There is no question of asking for money from the most vulnerable families.”

According to Ranjiv Woochit, Rs 30 does not represent a lot for many locals who can well afford to contribute to the development of their village. This fee would bring the district council Rs 25 million every year and allow it to improve the inhabitants’welfare – road repairs, waste collection, street lamps and refuse incinerators.

Even though the project appears laudable at first, the district council could well face the disagreement from the government. If the decision is indeed voted at district council level, it will have to be ratified by the central government. Added to the fact that no government has ever been really keen on implementing a rural tax, the fact that Ranjiv Woochit is in the PM’s constituency might make it hard to play and prevent him from reaching his goal.

<B>Reluctance to levy tax</B>

The former minister of Local government, Joe Lesjongard, is a perfect example of the authorities’ reluctance to levy rural tax. “They are announcing there will be a fund raising without even stating clearly for what purpose the money will be spent. This is a pity. I am against such a decision at the moment.”

Yet, the former MSM-MMM government had stated that it was in favour of local authorities being given autonomy for management on several occasions. This might be the reason for Rajesh Bhagwan’s stand, “District councils have to face reality: there is a lack of financial means to make their projects move forward. So they have to look for ways and means. They should be the ones to decide how to raise funds.”

If Ranjiv Woochit was the first to complain about the difficulty of going on without the collaboration of the inhabitants, other district councils are facing the same problems. A councillor from the South does not understand how the government can ask them to look for more funds but prevent them from doing their job when they find a solution. “As soon as we try to do something, they put a spoke in our wheels,” he protests.