ES Reporter

YUPIA, Sep 20: Panchayat leaders of Papumpare district have demanded early devolution of power to local bodies failing which they have threatened to resort to own course of action. PRI leaders headed by Zilla Parishad Chairperson- Papumpare Chukhu Bablu held a meeting with PRI members here at ZPC office on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Chukhu Bablu said "Elected local body leaders are of no value without devolution of power. As per Minister Panchayati  Raj,  power has been conferred to the local bodies, whereas till date we have no power even to buy a pencil," he asserted.  In paper, power has been conferred to the panchayat institutions but in ground reality there is nothing, the ZPC said.
While citing the Notification Dated 5th March 2021 regarding the constitution of Empowered Committee for devolution of power to Panchayati Raj Institutions under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, ZPC stated "The committee has six members and they had to submit the report within three months but surprisingly the dateline ended on 5th June last and there is no information about the committee’s report."
"People have elected us to work for the upliftment of the local areas, but after almost eight months of our election we are helpless and workless, we want to work but there is no absolute power & function for the local bodies," said Bablu. He also added that, being the ZPC of Papumpare, he has written letters to the concerned deputy commissioner for devolution of power as per the government’s notification of 2014 but surprisingly the DC refused it citing that no order has been received from the state government yet.
"Chief Minister Pema Khandu had also assured for devolution of power during the last panchayat election campaign. We have faith in his leadership and expect that he will surely work on it for the upliftment of  Panchayati Raj Institutions," said  the ZPC.
“Irrespective of party affiliation, today all the Zilla Parishad Members and Gram Panchayat Members are demanding early devolution of power," said Hina Camder Tok - ZPM-  IV-Upper Balijan. We are not here to criticize the state government, but the government is delaying the decentralization of power to  Panchayati Raj Institutions which is affecting the development activities at grassroots level, he added while advocating for early devolution of power to PRIs.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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