Date:19/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/19/stories/2008041960360600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

MPP chiefs for Delhi meet

Staff Reporter

GUNTUR: A team of 51 Mandal Praja Parishad (MPP) presidents led by Zilla Parishad Chairperson Kuchipudi Vijaya will attend a five-day national-level convention of panchayatraj institutions to be organised in New Delhi from April 22.

Union Minister for Panchayat Raj and Youth Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyar will preside over the convention, which is aimed at strengthening the panchayatraj institutions across the country.

Speaking to mediapersons on Friday, the ZP Chairperson said that the process of devolution of powers to local bodies was yet to be completed in the spirit of Article 243, which states that the powers and functions of the 29 departments should be transferred to the local bodies under the three-tier panchayat system.

While the State government assured these members of transferring the powers related to 29 departments, the powers of only nine departments were actually delegated to the local bodies in April 2006. The delegates at the convention would discuss the ways and means of delegating powers and the introduction of direct election system for the posts of zilla parishad chairperson and mandal presidents. They would reach the city on April 26.

The proposals included making gram panchayat presidents members of mandal parishad and legislators permanent invitees without voting right.

Those who attended the press conference included Chief Executive Officer P. Durga Prasad and some MPPs from Thullur, Vemuru and Tadikonda.