The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Bid to destabilise local bodies: Isaac

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Thursday, Jun 23, 2011
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Kerala - Kochi

Bid to destabilise local bodies: Isaac

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Former Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has asked Social Welfare and Panchayats Minister M.K. Muneer to make his stance clear on Rural Development Minister K.C. Joseph's statement that the government will establish a Village Development Authority in the State.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Dr. Isaac, now an MLA, said the move would destabilise the functioning of local bodies as the authority would function as a parallel centre of power. The government was planning to constitute village development samithis in each district as part of the authority. Those nominated bodies would erode the very foundation of the decentralisation process.

Stating that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government's future appeared bleak in view of the wrong decisions it had taken during the last one month in office, Dr. Isaac said the health, education, and finance sectors were the worst affected.

He alleged that the Health Minister had given the nod for private practice of government doctors without considering its social implications. The education sector was witnessing chaos. The former Minister said the government should regulate microfinance institutions in the State. Efforts should be made to push for a law to regulate lending by such institutions.

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