Bangalore: The Government is seriously considering restoring the tenure of office of presidents and vice-presidents of zilla, taluk and gram panchayats to five years realising the folly of reducing the term.

The term of presidents and vice-presidents of zilla and taluk panchayats was reduced from five years to 20 months and that of gram panchayat heads from five years to 30 months.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj C.M. Udasi told pressperson here on Friday that a Bill to restore the term of five years would be introduced in the coming session of the legislature.

Presidents and vice-presidents of many panchayat bodies had expressed their displeasure over the short tenure because they could get very little work done and wanted the five-year term restored.

Mr. Udasi said the Government was planning to increase the daily wage for workers under the Karnataka Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from Rs. 62.50 to Rs. 75.

He recently said that villagers were not coming forward to work under the scheme in a few districts because of the low wage. Acting Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil had suggested that the State could get more funds if it raised the daily wage.

The Minister said several States had increased the daily wage and Karnataka was one of the few States that had fixed a low wage. Kerala was giving labourers Rs. 125 a day under the scheme. The scheme would be extended to Haveri, Koppal, Kolar, Tumkur and Gadag districts soon and the Government had written to the Centre for approval.

He said that 278 works had been taken up by the Minor Irrigation Department at a cost of Rs. 178.50 crore. Sanction had been obtained for 128 works and tenders called, he added.

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