The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Panchayat leaders seek more financial resources

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 15, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Panchayat leaders seek more financial resources

Special Correspondent

They press parties to include their demands in poll manifestos

CHENNAI: Devolution of more financial resources and powers to the panchayats is the key demand the Tamil Nadu Federation of Women Presidents of Panchayat Government has made to political parties for being included in their election manifestos.

Representatives of the federation met in Chennai recently to draw up a list of `election-time' demands, which they presented to leaders of the political parties.

The chief of them was to increase allocation to the local bodies from eight per cent to 17 per cent in 2006, as recommended by the Second State Finance Commission. L. Amudha, president of the federation, and panchayat president in Cuddalore, said.

Unless this was sanctioned, it would be difficult to run the panchayat.

She called for steps to increase agriculture and land tax several times and hand it over to the village panchayats.

With the electricity tariff increased from Rs.1.60 a unit to Rs.3.60 and now to Rs.5.40 (commercial charges) and the Government deducting these charges from the funds, the panchayats did not even get receipts and vouchers for these transactions, she alleged.

The Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act must be amended to repeal the powers of the Collectors to remove an elected representative and veto the decisions of the elected council; restore the rights of water resources, springs, reservoirs, tanks to the panchayats and bind police and revenue officials to act by the resolutions of the panchayat.

A conference of all the members will be held on March 17 in Chennai to disseminate information about these demands.

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