Consensus document on Panchayati Raj on Apr 22: Aiyar

Vijayawada, Apr 20 (UNI) Union Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Manishankar Aiyar today informed that a 'consensus' document on working of Panchayat Raj institutions will be signed between the Centre and the state government on April 22.

At an interaction meeting on devolution of powers to Panchayat Raj institutions here, Mr Aiyar said he had been touring the state since wednesday to see for himself the working of the institutions and interacted with Andhra Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister J C Diwakar Reddy on the issue.

He urged the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constitutency (ZPTC) members not to despair for not vesting powers in them. ''You will find many powers in the coming five years if you contest again,'' he said.

Mr Aiyar said the full responsibility of running Panchayati Raj institutions rests with the state government, and the Centre has to intervene only when the states failt, administer them properly.

Later, Mr J C Diwakar Reddy announced the government would soon bring a GO on granting powers to the Panchayati Raj members.

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