Centre-State sign joint pact to strenthen Panchayati Raj

Mumbai, June 18 (UNI) Panchayati Raj is an important means to convert development into social justice thus the Centre will make all efforts to strengthen the roots of Panchayati Raj in Maharashtra r, Union Panchayati Raj Minister Manishankar Aiyer said today.

He was speaking at the signing of a joint statement on strengthening Panchayati Raj in the state at the Sahaydri guest house here.

Mr Aiyer lauded steps taken by the state to strengthen Panchayati Raj and said the joint statement will take it to the numero uno position.

He requested that the state government should provide necessary infrastructure and the centre would take definite steps in it.

He said the functioning of Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads will be planned, responsibility will be fixed and each member will be given detailed information about it in their local language.

The need for improvement in the finances of local bodies and bringing in more co-ordination was also stressed by Mr Aiyer.He added Late Rajiv Gandhi modeled the Panchayati Raj system nationwide with inspiration from Maharashtra.

UNI