Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (AF)

Udupi, Jun 30: The gram panchayats (GPs) of the district were up in arms against the government here on Friday June 29 regarding the issue of amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act 1993 which nullifies some of the powers of the GPs.

Members of all the 146 GPs marched the streets and staged a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. They alleged that by amending the Act, the government has done injustice to the GPs and made them irrelevant.

The Act was amended to enable the government to select beneficiaries of development programmes like Ashraya Yojana and water supply schemes at the rural level, a power that was hitherto in the hands of GPs.

The protest, staged as part of the state-wide agitation by GP members that began last month, saw hundreds of GP members gathered in front of the deputy commissioner’s office.

They also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj.