Strengthening PR institutions to eliminate insurgency: Aiyar

Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh, Apr 19 (UNI) The Union Minister for Panchayat Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar today said strengthening of the Panchayat Raj institutions would be of more help to eliminate insurgency than police action.

The Minister, who toured this district as part of his programme to observe the working of the Panchayat Raj institutions, addressed the general body meeting of the Zilla Parishad.

Mr Aiyar said that there was need to focus on the development of naxal-affected areas. The Union Minister who had toured the district advised people's representatives to visit every village, interact with the people and implement employment generating schemes. He said then the people would themselves oppose the Maoists.

The Union Minister said the Naxalites were able to block developmental works because the development of backward areas was not being attended to. He also lamented that even the Central funds were not properly being utilised. He has asserted that this was one of the reasons for insurgency taking deep routes in backward areas.

Mr Aiyar said that in some states the central funds were reaching the state government treasuries instead of the Panchayat Raj institutions, resulting in delay in execution of developmkent works.

He said the Central funds should directly reach the Panchayat Raj institutions and added that bank accounts should be seperately opened for these institutions to facilitate transfer of funds.

The Union Minister while faulting the present arrangement of making the district collector as the Chairman for even appointing Anganwadi workers, he said due to such measures delays were occurring.

The Minister had earlier interacted with the representatives of local Bodies in Gudi Hatnoor and enquired about the working of the Panchayat Raj institutions.

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