Growth in rural areas stalled sans Panchayat polls
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 13 2025: Taking serious note of the delay in conducting elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for over two years, former up-adhakshya of Imphal East Zila Parishad, Kshetri Tama said that withholding the elections has impeded growth in rural areas by preventing development activities.

She was attending an open discussion on 'Save Panchayat, Save Democracy' organised by the Adhoc Committee of Panchayati Raj Institute at Manipur Press Club here on Thursday.

Attending as chief guest, Kshetri Tama said that the committee had submitted a representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he took oath for the third term but no initiatives have been taken up so far.

Considering the situation, there is an urgent need for a public movement to save PRIs, she said.

"Even though the country boasts of being the largest democracy, rights of the people of the state are being violated for more than two years, " she pointed out, while reminding that as the last panchayat election was held in October 2017 it was due in 2022.However, the government never took up any steps to conduct the election till date.

Similarly, elections for urban local bodies and autonomous district councils are also pending for years, she rued.

"Instead of holding the elections, the government is entrusting administrative committees with caretakers to manage the local bodies.

This has severely impeded the growth in rural areas by preventing execution of development activities," she contended.

All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) president Kakchingtabam Bijoy, who presided over the session, emphasised the role of local bodies in bringing grassroots development.

Retired sessions judge A Noutuneshwari also attended the session as resource person.

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