Panchayati Raj conference in New Delhi from Apr 22

Puducherry, Apr 15 (UNI) The Panchayati Raj Ministry will organise a two-day national conference beginning on April 22 in New Delhi, Union Panchayati Raj Minister Manishankar Aiyar said today.

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a national seminar on emerging challenges in South Asian Regional Cooperation at the Pondicherry University here, he said all state governments have been asked to send their district panchayat presidents and intermediate panchayat representatives to participate in the conferencene.

Mr Aiyar said the conference would discuss the recommendations of the core committee after its meeting in mid-March and would take a decision to amend, accept or reject, whichever necessary.

The Gram Panchayat Presidents would also be given a chance to participate, he said adding that since, Panchayati Raj was a state subject, all state governments would get an opportunity to modify, accept or reject the recommendations.

In the next meeting of the National Development Council, Panchayati Raj would be made a subject for discussion, he said and added that states could exercise their autonomy on state subjects and modify, accept or reject the recommendations of the core committee.

''Democracy is a process of dialouge among all stakeholders and panchayati raj is the highest experiment of our democracy within the framework of our constitution,'' he added.

On the devolution of powers to the elected local body representatives in the Union Territory, Mr Aiyar said nothing had materialised so far even though a delegation had met him in New Delhi.

The state government would be reminded of it, he said adding that since it was a state subject they should act on it.

UNI PAB ROY LS SSC1402