Social Welfare and Panchayat Minister M K Muneer has said that Rs 1 crore would be allotted to each grama panchayats in the state in the next four-years to carry out various development activities. Inaugurating a special grama sabha meeting as part of his Grama Yatra at the Unnikulam Panchayat in the district on Monday, the Minister said that funds would be distributed with World Bank aid.
Referring to the importance of grama panchayats and Sabhas in the development activities, the Minister said that future development will be dictated by the grama sabhas.
“From now onwards it is mandatory to conduct grama sabhas on a regular basis. For discussing development and other issues at least three grama and ward sabhas should be conducted every year. Those ward members failing to organise the mandatory meetings will be dealt with stringent action,” Muneer said. He further urged the panchayat authorities to make sure the maximum participation of the people in these meetings. On state government issuing new guidelines for the preparation of the People’s Plan, Muneer said that it will provide the local bodies with more decision-making capabilities. “Though we are advocating de-centarlisation of power at every level, it still remains centralised at least in the case of development is concerned. This mentality should change and by involving more in the participatory governance, Kerala should become a role model for the entire country,” he urged.
The minister also said that Rural Development Minister Jayaram Ramesh has promised to give Rs 20 lakh for the panchayats. Out of it 70 percentage of the funds will be allocated by Central Government and the rest by State government. Distribution of more funds and de-centralisation of power will further enhance the activities of the local bodies in the State, Muneer added.
District Panchayat President Kanathil Jameela, Purushan Kadalundy MLA, District Collector K V Mohankumar, Soopi Narikateri and others also attended the meeting.