Devolution of power demanded, protests lined up
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Kakching, July 11 2014 :
As part of the ongoing agitation to demand among others devolution of power to the Panchayati Raj Institutions being spearheaded by Manipur State Panchayat Parishad in the four valley districts of Manipur, the elected PRI members of Thoubal CD block organized a sit-in protest at Thoubal Athokpam bazaar today.
Warning the government that failure to fulfill their demands would invite severe forms of agitations, the organization announced that the agitating PRI members would stage a rally at Imphal on July 14 to exert pressure.
During the sit-in protest organized by Block Panchayat Parishad, Thoubal CD Block, A Dhiren Singh, president of Thoubal District Panchayat Parishad, stated that now-a-days Panchayats in Manipur exists only in name.
In 2004, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had signed a MoU with the then Union minister Mani Shanker Aiyer regarding devolution of powers to the Panchayats concerning 16 departments along with other development schemes.
However, the MoU has not materialized till date; Dhiren pointed out, and added that on 2nd December 2013, they submitted an ultimatum with their demands to the Chief Minister.
Flaying the intervention of the MLAs in the MGNREGS works with sharing of 25% funds in the name of line department works, he demanded that these works be handed over to the Panchayats.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over the Government's removal of BDOs, and subsequent handing of the charges to SDOs, and urged the government to officiate the requisite BDOs, and also to avail of 100 days work to job card holders.