Panchayat representatives stage massive sit-in across State
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 09 2014:
Elected representatives of Panchayat in the four valley districts on Wednesday staged a massive sit-in protest at the nine Panchayat blocks and headquarters against non-devolution of power to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
A massive protest demonstration was held by the elected Panchayat representatives across the four districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur against the failure of Manipur Government to devolve power to the State Panchayati Raj institutions, Th Sharatchandra, Up-Adhyaksha, Imphal West II, said.
Flaying Manipur Government for its alleged indifferent attitude towards their plight, Sharatchandra said, "We cannot tolerate the negative attitude of the Government any longer" .
He said they have decided to take up further sustained agitation to push for their demands.
The demands of the elected Panchayat representatives include ensuring 100 days of work under MGNREGS, appointment of regular BDOs, devolution of power to the Panchayat bodies, implementation of three tiers Panchayati Raj system and increasing the amount of honorariums of the elected Panchayat representatives.