Funding of Local Panchayati Raj bodies to be monitored

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today informed the Rajya Sabha that Government will ensure that all funds given to States for implementation of poverty alleviation and rural development schemes by Panchayats are neither delayed nor diverted.

Monitoring will be strict, he said adding that in addition, after consultations with States, the UPA government will consider crediting elected Panchayats with such funds directly.

Funds pertaining to poverty alleviation and rural development schemes are currently given directly to District Panchayats/DRDAs by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Replying to another question, Mr Aiyar admitted that Government are discouraging the introduction of two-child-norm for the candidates contesting Panchayat elections.

As per the information available, the States that have introduced is provision in their Panchayat laws are - Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

He further said that Himachal Pradesh has deleted the provision after its introduction in its legislation. Madhya Pradesh has announced its intention of doing so and Haryana has the matter under review.

Mr Aiyar made it clear that the Government was not proposing to ban the introduction of two-child-norm by a constitutional amendment. UNI BBS YA SP1400