NELLORE: Enhanced cash incentives from the Government for unanimous panchayats might be driving villagers to strive for unanimous elections to sarpanch and upasarpanch posts.

But the move has given a fillip to auctioneering and the bid price in many villages has gone up.

In several villages, elders have been encouraging auctions stating that the money could be used for developmental activities.

Accordingly, sarpanch and upasarpanch posts in many villages have been auctioned.

But the bid price has increased to a notable level with the Government announcing enhanced cash incentives both for panchayats and major panchayats for a variety of reasons.

Many villagers are now demanding contenders for these posts to bid for higher amounts.

Earlier, the Government used to pay Rs. 5 lakhs for unanimous major gram panchayats and Rs. 1 lakh for minor gram panchayats. But the incentive has been increased to Rs. 15 lakhs for major gram panchayat and Rs. 5 lakhs for minor gram panchayat.

If the current trend is any indication, elders in many villages, in particular major gram panchayats, are now insisting that the bid value be increased in view of the Government decision to enhance incentives for unanimous panchayats.

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