MLA seeks discretionary funds for ZP, TP members for development

The Union and State governments should allocate discretionary funds for Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat members, to be used for executing development works in their respective constituencies, to make decentralisation meaningful, said MLA K G Bopaiah.

He was speaking during the inauguration function of Samarthya Soudha, the new building of the Virajpet Taluk Panchayat, constructed at a cost of Rs 65 lakh, at Ponnampet, near here, on Wednesday.

“The ZP and TPs have been reduced to mere executing agencies under the governments and depend solely on government funds. So, the objective of decentralisation of power behind their constitution has lost meaning. With every passing day, centralisation is getting strengthened, despite steps being taken for decentralisation. The foundation of decentralisation ‘Gram Sabhas’ have lost their significance,” he lamented.

However, he held the residents of villages responsible for the failure of Gram Sabhas.

He said, people should actively participate in Gram Sabhas, held periodically in all villages under each Grama Panchayat, and assert their right to take active part in the development of their respective village, he said.

ZP President B Shivappa, Vice-President Biddanda Usha Devamma, ZP Education and Health Standing Committee president Mani Nanjappa, members M S Kushalappa, Kanthi Belyappa, Sharin Subbaiah and B N Prathyu, TP Vice-President Urmila, Executive Officer Padnekar and others were present.