Centre to bring in revised Panchyati Raj act: Aiyar

Hyderabad, May 14 (UNI) Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar today said the UPA government is contemplating to bring in a revised Panchayat Raj act at the earliest.

Speaking at the Andhra Pradesh Congress plenary organised as part of completion of two year Congress government under the stewardship of Chief minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy here, the minister said the UPA government was committed to transform the powers to the local bodies as per the 73rd constitutional amendment and Panchayati Raj act.

Mr Aiyar said the Centre would bring in new act to enable the Panchayats to get more funds and powers.

Referring to the recently launched National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme (NREGS), Mr Aiyar said the government would increase funds for this scheme and involve Panchayati Raj institutions in a big way to enable the poor to get the benefit from the scheme.

He said the local bodies would have legal rights and powers to implement the scheme.

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