WB aid sought for Panchayat Raj empowerment: Iyar

Nandigama, Sep 29 (UNI) Union Panchayati Raj Minister Manishankar Iyar today said his ministry had sought a Rs 4,000-crore World Bank (WB) assistance for strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions, and clearance from the Finance Ministry was awaited.

Speaking at a two-day training camp of sarpanches in the Krishna district here, Mr Iyar said, to obtain financial clearance and World Bank aid, the Parliamentarians should support the proposal and mount pressure on the Centre.

On power devolution to the Panchayat Raj institutions as envisaged in the 73 and 74 Constitutional amendments, he said it would be on the Gandhi Jayanti, on October two or on Jawaharlal Nehru Birth anniversary, on November 14.

He said power devolution alone would not bring in the desired results as financial assistance was vital. Funds allotted for backward districts should percolate into grass root level of mandal panchayats, he added.

UNI