MLC to stage protest demanding empowerment of GPs

MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary has said that he, along with 25 other like-minded people, will organise a protest demanding empowerment of gram panchayats.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the MLC said that the protest is being organised at the Gandhi statue between Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha. He said that the funds, functionaries and the function are crucial responsibilities to be given to gram panchayats wherein the lower tier of local self-governance would be empowered.

A severe shortage of staff in gram panchayats has hampered the activities in the gram panchayats. As many as 1,800 persons have been scrutinised and recruited for the post of PDOs and secretaries. However, they have not been issued appointment letters. The government's interference into the functioning of gram panchayat is totally unfair, Poojary said. He said that the funds allotted to the six-membered gram panchayat and 60-membered gram panchayat is same. He demanded that each gram panchayat should be given grants of Rs 50 lakh for taking up development works.