Committees in all States to check dilution of powers to panchayats

Bangalore, Feb 24 (UNI) Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today announced constitution of Advisory Committees in all states to check any attempt to dilute the powers of panchayat institutions.

The committees would report to his Ministry about functioning of the institutions and provide inputs for effective implementation of rural schemes to empower oppressed sections of the society, besides recommending steps to further strengthen these bodies, he said.

D R Patil, a Congress Legislator with rich experience in the working of panchayat institutions, would be the Chairman of the Committee in Karnataka, former Lok Sabha member and JD(S) leader C Narayanaswamy would be a member as suggested by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Mr Aiyar was speaking here after inaugurating the Karnataka Rural Business Hubs Council, a first-ever attempt to involve panchayat institutions in public-private partnerships for the overall economic development of rural areas of the state.

Coming down heavily on the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the state for its remarks about withdrawing some powers from panchayats, the Minister said, ''it is nothing but a retrogade step which will ultimately lead to showing your back to the development process. If Legislators want the job of panchayat members, let them resign and get elected to the panchayats.'' MORE UNI MV GD AK RS1702