The Hindu : Amendment to ensure funds for panchayati raj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 14, 2002

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Amendment to ensure funds for panchayati raj

By Our Special Correspondent

PANAJI (GOA) APRIL 13. The Government is keen on amending the 73rd Constitution Amendment to remove the lack of clarity standing in the way of devolution of funds to panchayats, the Union Minister for Rural Development, Venkaiah Naidu, said here today as he released the Bharatiya Janata Party's resolution on empowerment of panchayati raj.

At the end of the budget session, the Prime Minister would call an all-party meeting to seek consensus for a Constitution amendment bill to remove the anomalies in the 73rd amendment which ushered in panchayati raj and the idea of local self-government. At an all India conference of panchayati raj earlier this month such a consensus was already evident — the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had promised support and the Left parties were in principle inclined to supporting the idea — when a national declaration was adopted. The BJP's national executive committee today formalised the party's approach to this issue by adopting a resolution appreciative of the move.

Mr. Naidu said the intention was not to ignore the States, but to make funds available to the panchayats through the States in a way to prevent the diversion of funds and misuse. The Law Ministry was working on the amendment bill which he wanted the Government to adopt as soon as possible, ushering in a fully empowered three-tier panchayati rule right down to the village panchayat.

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