2,806 panchayats yet to get promised grant, says Congress
Saturday, 06/04/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130406/punjab.htm#6
Chandigarh : The Punjab Congress today claimed that 2,806 panchayats that had responded to the government appeal to go in for unanimous elections of its office bearers were still awaiting the promised Rs 3 lakh grant each.
In a statement here, senior Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had during his earlier regime (2007-12) promised grants worth Rs 3 lakh to each panchayat that was elected unanimously. The promise had not been honoured.
Rana Gurjit said the SAD-BJP Government seemed to be in two minds over the best way for electiing sarpanches.In the 2008 panchayat poll, the system of electing the sarpanch directly was done away with and a new system introduced under which the panches elected their sarpanch. This system was introduced by the ruling alliance to ensure the election of its own men as sarpanches, Rana Gurjit alleged.
The Congress leader said in the coming panchayat poll, the government had resorted to yet another tactic to give Akali workers unfair advantage. Village wards had been formed in such a manner so as to ensure the election of "chosen" workers. This had led to intense groupism.
Rana Gurjit said the ruling alliance should opt for the earlie formula under which the Zila Parishad Chairperson was nominated Chairman of the district rural development agency to fast-track development.
