News: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, Nov 25: Panchayat Raj has strengthened the social fabric, filled it with new life and caused social revolution, said district in charge minister B Ramanath Rai.
He was speaking as a chief guest at a Dakshina Kannada district level conference held by the representatives of Dakshina Kannada district grama panchayats, all taluk representatives and elected women representatives of Sugrama grama panchayat at Rangoli hall of B C Road on Saturday, November 23.
He said that only the mighty could enter into the panchayat system in the past but due to the reservation policy, ordinary people, people of all religions regardless of their caste and creed are able to enter into the system. The panchayat should be granted at least a grant of Rs 25 lacs. The panchayat conference should continue their struggle in this direction. Work with determination, help the villagers and earn their trust. I have my support to your struggle, he said.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the conference.
"The development of grama leads to the development of the country. The grant allotted by the government for the grama is not sufficient. The government should grant an amount of Rs one crore to each grama. The panchayat raj system should get recognized. It is necessary to fight for the needs of the members across party lines," he said.
Health minister U T Khader spoke and said that gram panchayat members in the grama should work with love, trust and sincerity and become their well wishers. They should gather information of various government departments and convey them to the needy people. The people representatives in all districts will have workshops from the health department. With them a healthy society will be built, he said.
District panchayat president Koragappa Naik presided over the programme. MLAs Shakuntala Shetty, Moidin Bawa, Vidhana Parishat members Pratapchandra Shetty and Kota Srinivas Poojary spoke from time to time.
Bantwal Taluk panchayat president Lalitha Shivappa Naik, district panchayat chief executive officer Tulasi Maddaneni, Treasurer Soofi Kumbhi, district representatives Prabhakar Prabhu, Askar Ali, Shashikala Chowta, Sugrama women people prepresentative society president Vrinda Poojary, hameed Kinya, Mangalore, Muralidhar Rai, Puttur, Santhosh Jake, Sullia and others were present.
Bantwal taluk grama panchayat representative conference president K Subhaschandra welcomed the gathering. Dakshina Kannada grama panchayat representative conference president K Devadas Bhandary gave a key note address. Belthangadi taluk grama panchayat representatives conference president P K Chandrashekar put forth several demands. Haider and Jaleel conducted the programme. Sadananda Poojary, district conference secretary thanked.
The 25 demands included implementation of demands at 2004 conference at Belur. Implementation of 3rd commission recommendations, increase in remuneration paid to grama panchayats and members, filling of vacant positions, appointment of additional staff etc.
A discussion was held on problems faced by the members and obstacles while performing duties, Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment project, waste disposal, shelter project and distribution of sites.
The list of demands on behalf of the conference was handed over to Panchayat raj minister H K Patil, through minister Rai. Grama panchayat members were distributed identity cards at the conference.