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Most local bodies fail to hold gram sabhas on I-day

PUDUCHERRY: A majority of village panchayats failed to follow the government direction to convene gram sabhas on the Independence Day. It might be recalled that on Saturday Public Health Minister A. Namassivayam, who also holds the Local Administration portfolio, gave a direction to the heads of village panchayats to convene the meeting after the Village Panchayats Presidents Association threatened to organise black flag demonstration on Independence Day to highlight their demands.

Mr. Namassivayam told The Hindu on Monday that a large number of panchayats did not follow the government direction. “It's a clear breach of violation. I have asked the Local Administration Department (LAD) to submit a detailed report and based on it the government will take action against those bodies violated the government order,” he said.

It was compulsory to convene the grama sabha meetings on Republic Day, May Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi Day, he said.

As per the information gathered from the LAD office, of the 71 village panchayats, only 15 convened the meetings. Officials in the Department said they are in the process of preparing the report.

Charge refuted

Refuting the charge that the government had not devolved adequate powers to local bodies, he said that out of the total 29 powers meant to be given to the civic bodies, notification had already been issued sanctioning 22 functions. Functions such as laying of rural roads, supply of drinking water, de-silting of canals and providing street lights have already been allotted to civic bodies.

Besides, the president and vice-president of village panchayats are eligible to draw up to Rs. 10,000 for implementing works.

While the president and vice-president are eligible to get an allowance of Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively, the ward councillor was eligible to get Rs 1,000 as allowance. They would also get a cell phone allowance of Rs 500 each, the Minister said.

The government set aside a sum of Rs 7.2 crore during the current financial year for construction of buildings for village panchayats. The amount would be utilised to provide own buildings for 40 village panchayats, the Minister pointed out.

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