Expert Committee recommends formation of VDC

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) The Expert Committee, set up by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to incorporate 'Planning for the Sixth Schedule Areas and those not covered in the Constitution,' in its report to the Government today recommended that all the Autonomous Councils in the country be impressed upon to set up the Village Development Council (VDC) at the earliest.

Releasing the report, Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar told newspersons here that it would lead to the planning and implementation of any projects from the village level in the system.

He said it would lead to faster economic growth and speedy uplift of the hilly, tribal and rural areas in the country.

Mr V Ramachandran, who heads the committee, said they felt that it would also help in drastic reduction of the flow of funds to various militant outfits which till now drew the maximum finance from the ''superficial set ups in our system of Governance''.

Responding to questions, Mr Ramachandran said once the money was available with the village committee, no militant group could afford to reach the fund.

Simultaneously, it would also help in the homogenous development of the entire region.

Mr Ramachandran said all efforts had been taken to ensure that all those areas which were covered under the sixth schedule as well as those not covered under parts IX and IXA of the Constitution in Meghalaya under three Autonomous Councils will be covered by this, besides covering the eastern hilly district of Tripura with its four revenue districts.

Apart from this, the hilly areas of Manipur, Darjeeling area of West Bengal, Sikkim, Nagaland, the Leh and Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir have also been included.

He said in the case of Manipur, the State Government already enacted a legislation on this. So, while including the state under the scheme all care had been taken to ensure that there should not be any conflicts at any level.

Later, responding to questions on the cancellation of the proposed Mahapanchayat rally in Delhi, Mr Aiyer said it had not been cancelled but only postponed from December, 2007 to April 24, 2008.

UNI