TS govt mulls new legislation to empower gram panchayats

Hyderabad: The Telangana government decided to bring a new legislation to ensure effective functioning of gram panchayats in the State, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister K Taraka Rama Rao said on Sunday.
Besides strengthening gram panchayat system and ensuring decentralisation, this new law would uphold democratic spirit, he said.

In a press note issued on Sunday, Rama Rao pointed out that a study of existing laws in neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra would be done. If not all, some of them could be incorporated in the new legislation to be introduced by the Telangana government, he said, adding that the law would be the best in the entire nation. The Panchayat Raj Minister informed that suggestions and guidance of Chief Minister would be taken before arriving at a final decision on this.

He also mooted the idea of bringing 29-odd government departments in villages under one umbrella and made accountable to elected Sarpanches. This would ensure effective governance in villages. He stressed on a big campaign to create awareness among rural folk on paying taxes without fail. Also regular tax payers could be encouraged by giving incentives, he felt.

Rama Rao laid emphasis on role of women groups in development of villages. The Telangana government realised it and hence decided to involve them in implementation of e-panchayat and drinking water grid schemes, he added.