MADURAI: If elected, our panchayat presidents would reside in the locality from where they are chosen, regularly visit the office to ensure transparent governance, desist from involving in antisocial activities and they will not amass wealth by misusing their official position. The election manifesto of `Pasumai Panchayat,' a new forum floated by a few incumbent panchayat presidents and like-minded individuals, goes like this.

"Though all these may portend to be the essential qualities of a leader, they are amiss now," claimed Y. David, founder of the forum, who released the manifesto here on Sunday. The forum has planned to contest in more than 1,000 panchayats spread over 20 districts."Our outfit should not be considered as a political party merely because we have released a manifesto. The prime aim of our forum is to preserve the abundant natural resources of villages by ensuring good governance."Even after facing two elections since the 73rd amendment to the Constitution, which relates to panchayats, there has been no trace of self-governance, he said and alleged that panchayats were functioning only as a wing of the State Government.

Gram sabha meetings had become mere rituals, he alleged.

K. Karuthakannan, president of Thanakankulam panchayat, said the panchayats were not provided with sufficient funds and many were struggling to pay even electricity bills and remuneration for sanitary workers.

The President of Thethoor panchayat near Alanganallur, K. Karadi said that efforts should be made to change the situation where relatives of women-panchayat presidents interfered in the day-to-day functioning of the local body.

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