Andhra Pradesh   

Sarpanches want Janmabhoomi scrapped

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 25. The Andhra Pradesh Sarpanches' Association has demanded that the State Government immediately scrap the Janmabhoomi programme and transfer of all powers to local bodies as envisaged by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments.

The association at its executive meeting held here on Tuesday adopted resolutions highlighting their demands which include the scrapping of Janmabhoomi and the nodal officer system.

Addressing a press conference, the association president, P. Venkata Rama Reddy, and other office-bearers said they were not in favour of any alternative programme to Janmabhoomi as it would only dilute the powers of gram panchayats. Panchayat institutions alone could fulfil the basic needs of rural people, they said, adding despite submitting repeated representations relating to 47 of the demands, the Telugu Desam Government had issued only seven "namesake" GOs.

Mr. Reddy demanded abolition of "parallel committees" like education committee, mothers committee and the water users' association which were the brainchild of the previous Government.

He wanted the 21,900-odd gram panchayats in the State made self-sufficient. He also sought transfer of 50 per cent of the funds from the State budget to them.

The association urged the Government to give the entire amount collected under professional tax in rural areas to the gram panchayats and restore the powers to collect parking fee in their respective panchayats.

Alleging that the previous Government had diverted Central funds to other schemes, he said such funds should be directly given to the gram panchayats without the involvement of the State Government. Funds to the tune of Rs. 970 crores pertaining to the 10th Finance Commission, 11th Finance Commission, Second State Finance Commission, entertainment tax and professional tax were due to gram panchayats.

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