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Sarpanches oppose joint cheque power decision
Gram Panchayat heads fear that joint cheque power granted to them and Upa Sarpanches will lead to friction between them
Hyderabad: The newly elected Sarpanches are on the warpath over the government granting joint cheque power to Upa Sarpanches. The Sarpanches decided to embark on protest programmes.
The Sarpanches expressed their opposition to the government's decision because such an action in granting joint cheque power may lead to friction between them and Upa Sarpanches.
The Sarpanches have planned stage sit-ins at the District Collectorates on June 24 in protest against government's decision. They have also planned stage protests on July 4 and 7.
Telangana State Sarpanches Forum S Bhumnna Yadav said the decision of the government to grant to the joint cheque power to sparches and upa-sarpanches would lead to friction between them.
He said that it would be better to give joint cheque power to sarpanch and an official so to ensure smooth functioning of administration.
He demanded transfer of 29 powers to the Gram Panchayats under the 73 and 73 Constitutional amendments. Bhumanna Yadav appealed to the government to sanction Rs 20,000 honorarium a month to sarpanches.
He demanded that the government immediately release incentives to the GPs which held unanimous election for the post of Sarpanches. The elections to the Gram Panchayats was held in January this year.
The cheque power was given to the Sarpanches during this month. However, the cheque to draw funds from the GP account has to be signed by Sarpanches and the Upa-Sarpanch.
In the past the joint cheque power had been given to the Sarpanch and the Panchayat Secretary. Under the new Panchayat Raj Act this clause was amended and the Upa-Sarpanch had been made co-signatory along with Sarpanch.
Most of the Gram Panchayats have funds but the sarpanches were not allowed till now to utilise them. Many of the panchayats have about Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakhs in their accounts. The funds should be used to pay salaries of the staff and to take up development works.
Due to the delay in granting the cheque power, the Sarpanches were unable to draw funds from the accounts till June. With this they had been borrowing money from various sources and carrying out the activities of the villages.
