JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Kalulal Gujjar, has called upon the Centre to provide special incentives to the States taking significant steps for strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Centre should also increase its share from 75 per cent to 90 per cent in the expenditure on training of Panchayati Raj functionaries, he said. Addressing a meeting of the National Development Council's Sub-Committee on financial and administrative empowerment of Panchayati Raj in New Delhi on Wednesday, Mr. Gujjar said the Centre should encourage panchayat bodies by giving them matching grants on the augmentation of their income and evolve a consensus on the cess and fee levied by them in various States.

Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar presided over the meeting. Mr. Gujjar said Rajasthan expected an increase in the Central assistance for works implemented through PRIs in view of its difficult geography, vast desert, long distances and a huge geographical area. "The cost of providing services is comparatively higher in the State because of these factors,'' he said. He said the programmes such as watershed development required a better coordination between various Ministries in the Centre.

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