Need to empower panchayats: Meghwal

Itanagar Feb 13: Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Nihal Chand Meghwal has stressed the need to empower Panchayats through effective devolution of power and functions.

The minister who was visiting a Bamboo Processing Unit at Poma on Thursday, in his address to panchayat leaders of the area, said Panchayati Raj in Arunachal Pradesh was the oldest and added that the grassroot democratic institutions need to be empowered, an official release said.

Meghwal said gram panchayat was most important part of the Panchayati Raj system and the nation would only be able to progress if the gram panchayats were strengthened and empowered.

The minister also announced that Rs 15 lakh will be provided for the construction of GPC building at Poma and computers sets to all gram panchayats through e-PRI project of the Centre.

Meanwhile, Zilla Parishad member of Sangdupota, Gollo Takam apprised the minister about the problems faced by the panchayat members and hoped that Meghwal's visit would bring good results for the panchayats of Poma and Arunachal as a whole, the release said.

PTI