The Gram Panchayats have every right to spend funds for the needs of their villages. No one should interfere in this. On this matter, the official should clarify once again,” the CM, K Chandrasekhar Rao said.
Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao declared that local bodies would be strengthened and they would be made to play an active role in the rural development. He said the Zilla Parishads and Mandal Parishads would be given funds like the Gram Panchayats and they would be assigned with the fixed responsibilities. He also made it clear that Zilla and Mandal Parishads would be allocated funds in the State’s budget of 2021-2022.
KCR said the New Panchayat Raj Act had empowered the gram panchayats with the power to utilize their funds totally without taking any permission from the Mandal and District level officials. He wanted this should be implemented effectively.
The CM held a review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan here on Monday on measures to be taken to strengthen the local bodies.
We have incorporated conditions in the new Act for the Gram Panchayats to spend their funds totally. But in some places, for more than Rs 2 Lakh worth works, the old rule of taking permission from the Mandal officers is being implemented. This is against the new Act. The Gram Panchayats have every right to spend funds for the needs of their villages. No one should interfere in this. On this matter, the official should clarify once again,” the CM, said.
“The government has taken a decision to strengthen the local bodies and implementing it. As part of this, the Finance Commission is releasing funds directly to the gram panchayats and municipalities. Every month Gram Panchayats are released Rs 308 Crore and Municipalities Rs 148 Crore.
Since there is no dearth of funds, programmes like Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi are successfully implemented. Villages have now dump yards, Tractors, Plant nurseries and Vaikunta Dhams. In a similar way, special funds from the finance commission would be released to Zilla and Mandal Parishads. If these funds are linked with the MNREGA more funds can be accrued. Fix responsibilities to Zilla and Mandal Parishads besides releasing funds.
