The State government proposes to add more teeth and powers to the functioning of gram sabhas.
A proposed amendment to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act intends to establish a new arm called Ward or Constituency Sabhas to lend a helping hand to gram panchayats to implement development programmes.
Official sources told The Hindu in Gulbarga City on Saturday that as per the draft of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act 2014, which was prepared based on the recommendations made by the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act Amendment Committee headed by the former Speaker K.R. Rameshkumar, gram sabhas would be given more responsibility and a participatory role in the functioning of gram panchayats.
After the amendment of the Act, gram panchayats will need to mandatorily consult gram sabhas before acquiring land for development projects or resettling or rehabilitating persons affected by the acquisition. The gram sabhas will need to be consulted before granting prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals in the village area and before granting concessions for exploitation of minor minerals.
Sources said that once the proposed amendment is made, gram sabhas would have powers to discuss the plan outlay of the gram panchayat and subject-wise allocation of funds.
A provision has also been made for convening special budget meetings of the gram sabhas twice year in April and October to consider the plans and finances of gram panchayats.
Another suggestion mooted is the constitution of ward or constituency sabhas which would identify and assess the needs of the people of their respective area and present them before the respective gram sabha.
