Tamil Nadu   

Women panchayat presidents oppose two-tier system

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JULY 11. The Tamil Nadu Women Panchayat Presidents Association has urged the Chief Minister to invite representatives of local bodies for discussions on ground realities at the village level.

In a release here, Ponnikailasam, president, called for continuation of the three-tier panchayat system in the State, and said villages experienced unprecedented developmental activities during the past seven years.

Opposing the two-tier system, she said it would rob the panchayats of their independence.

Welcoming the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's recent measures to empower panchayats to function as local self-governments, Ms. Ponnikailasam wanted all parties to support decisions for direct funding of local bodies by the State and Central Governments.

Further, she requested the State Government to allocate 14 per cent of the total revenue to panchayats as per the recommendations of the State Finance Commission in 1997-98. The delayed payment of even the existing eight per cent caused hindrance to maintenance works on the drinking water, electricity and conservancy fronts, she said.

Ms. Ponnikailasam also wanted the State Government to entrust responsibilities such as management of mineral resources, collecting cess from cable television operators, etc., with the local bodies.

She took exception to direct State funding and implementation of schemes through women self-help groups and wanted the Government to enable the panchayats to impart computer knowledge to the rural populace by installing computers in panchayats.

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