Gujarat govt to form a 70,000-strong Gram Mitras to work in villages

Vadodara, Dec 29 (UNI) Promising to convert each Gram Panchayat in Gujarat into ''Gram Sachivalaya'', Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced his government's decision to form a 70,000-strong trained brigade of ''Gram Mitras'' to help guide the sarpanches of villages.

Addressing a Mahasammelan of the newly elected sarpanches and panchayat members of six districts of central Gujarat here, Mr Modi said each panchayat would have a five-member team of Gram Mitras, which would assist and guide the sarpanch in the implementation of all government policies and welfare programmes in the village.

The Gram Mitras would be selected from among the educated people of the same village and given proper training by the government in Gandhinagar on different aspects of village life and its development before they were put in their job as Gram Mitras, the chief minister said adding that simiar training would also be given to all the newly elected sarpanches and panchayat members to make them aware of their job and responsibilities.

Mr Modi announced his government would provide 100 per cent matching grant over and above the cleanliness tax being collected by the panchayats as the government had decided to observe 2007 as ''Nirmal Gujarat Year''.

The year-long-campaign, aimed at spreading awareness about cleanliness, would kick start in all cities and villages in the state from tomorrow.

Giving away cash incentives to gram panchants which opted for samras instead of going to polls in the just concluded gram panchayat elections in the state, Mr Modi said the samras scheme, which was adopted by 28 per cent villages, was gaining popularity day by day as it had paved the way for speedy implementation of developmental works.

Praising 41 Samras gram panchayats which have all women members, the chief minister said he had directed the Panchayati Raj deparyment to provide all sorts of assitance to these panchayats as they had set a new revolutionary trend in the society.

The state government has planned to organise similar Mahasammelans of sarpanches and other panchayat members at three other regions of the state.

The Mahasammelan of the panchayat members of six central Gujarat districts was attended by about a dozen ministers and party MPs and MLAs of Kheda, Vadodara, Narmada, Dahod, Panch Mahals and Anand.

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