The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Campaign to scrap Collectors' power to sack panchayat chiefs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Campaign to scrap Collectors' power to sack panchayat chiefs

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 22. Non-governmental organisations and panchayat presidents will conduct a Statewide signature campaign for rescinding the powers of Collectors to dismiss local body chiefs.

A public interest litigation petition will also be filed, a meeting of the NGOs' representatives and panchyat presidents decided here today. "We will conduct a State[wide] signature campaign for repeal of chapter 10 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act and specifically Section 205 that gives the Collector as Inspector of Panchayats [the powers] to remove panchayat presidents... ," said a declaration.

"This is undemocratic and an assault on grass roots democracy," said a woman panchayat president at the two-day `State-level resource persons training workshop for women activists from NGOs and other democratic organisations on panchayat government and decentralisation.' The meeting was organised by the Tamil Nadu NGO Alliance for Empowering Panchayat Government.

`No misuse'

District administration officials, who spoke to The Hindu , said that in principle the power of the Collector to remove a panchayat president might not be correct. But there was no instance of a Collector in the State removing any panchayat president without convincing reasons.

The reasons included financial misappropriation, non-adherence to tender procedures and collecting taxes and not remitting them to the appropriate head of account. If the Collector did not have this power, the meagre control of the district administration over village development activity would go, the officials said.

Ossie Fernandes, director, Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation, who participated in the valedictory of the workshop, said it was intended to equip the participants with knowledge of the latest developments in the panchayat law, policy and finance. The NGO leaders would work closely with the panchayat presidents for them to function effectively. The NGO Alliance also addressed the issue of strengthening the panchayat federations and make them work together ahead of the next local body elections.

The workshop said women and Dalit leaders, who were discriminated against in the public life and denied access to political power for centuries, needed skills to become effective members of local bodies. "We will oppose all discriminatory acts against the president by the vice-president, clerks and government officials," the meeting declared. "In case of violations we will immediately organise fact-finding investigations and take measures to ensure justice for the presidents who are victimised."

Noting that earmarked funds were not being sent to the panchayats, the NGO activists said they would join in the struggle to get the money released for development activities in villages. The Government should increase the budgetary expenditure from eight per cent to a minimum of 15 per cent.

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