Panchayat bodies air grievances
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18 2014 :
Elected representatives of different Panchayat bodies have said that the Centre is delaying release of funds due to Line Department's failure to submit utilisation certificate in time.
In a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, Manipur State Panchayat Parishad president Toijam Ibobi said the State Government is yet to initiate action on Panchayat bodies' plea of devolution of power.
In this regard, he said, the meetings with the Chief Minister and the memoranda submitted to him on January 31 and December 14 last year have not received any positive response.
Soibam Subash Chandra, a Zila Parishad Member, said that the State got funds under MGNREGS for only 10 days in 2013-14 against 70 mandays of 2012-13 .
He added that the Centre has stopped releasing fund to the State as the Line Department, which assists the Panchayat bodies, is unable to submit utilisation certificate to the Central Government in time.
In this regard, he urged the State Government to work out a plan for early release of fund from the Centre.
Saying that appointment of SDOs as Block Development Officers give lots of inconvenience to the working of the Panchayat bodies, Subash Chandra urged the Government to appoint separate Programme Officers at the Panchayat level.
Urging the State Government to upgrade Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department as a major department, Subash Chandra also demanded that power for selection of beneficiaries of IAY, SGSY/NRLN, NSAP and Old-Age pension scheme be handed over to Gram Sabha.
Imphal East Adhyaksha Konthoujam Tombi urged the Government to devolute power to Panchayat bodies.
He said that the present honararium provided to Adhyakshas is too less.
Elected representatives of the Panchayat bodies of all the four valley districts would stage sit-in-protests at respective district headquarters on January 23 if their demands are not fulfilled, he added.