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More funds for local bodies sought

PUDUCHERRY: The Federation of Puducherry Village Panchayat Presidents on Friday urged the government to earmark 20 per cent of its total revenue for the local bodies in the Union Territory to enable them to meet their financial requirements.

Addressing a press conference here, co-convener of the federation G.A. Jagannathan said the government should come forward to share its funds with the local bodies, as the Planning Commission had permitted a plan size of Rs. 1,750 crore, marking a 20 per cent growth.

The Puducherry government had failed to ensure devolution of funds and decentralisation of powers for the local bodies, though several other State governments had fulfilled their obligations under the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, he said.

The federation was of the firm view that funds and proposals for providing civic amenities and infrastructure in areas which fell under all the 98 village panchayats and five municipalities in the Union Territory should not be disbursed through the legislators, who adopted a step-motherly attitude towards certain local bodies, he said.

Allocation of funds for MLAs for constituency development at the rate of Rs.1.25 crore per Assembly segment had become redundant now as the job should be entrusted to the elected local bodies which alone would be able to identify the requirements of the localities.

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