Representatives of the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI) on Tuesday appealed to the Manipur government not to delete Panchayat Raj from Manipur.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, Pheiroijam Heramani, ex-Zilla Parishad member of Thoubal, said that PRIs demand for extension of elected representatives of 5th general Panchayat election 2017 to continue to function till the notification of 6th general Panchayat election is out.
It is not their self demand but that there is law in Manipur Panchayat Raj Act 1994 which states that when the government fails to conduct Panchayat election, the elected representatives of previous election should continue their office, he stressed, appealing to notify election notice.
He mentioned that in the Manipur Legislative Assembly session, the concerned minister has proudly said that the Panchayat Election will be conducted in September. But September is completed, still there is no notification of the election, he added.
“Whether the state government is trying to demolish the Panchayat election because the assurance given before the assembly and the state cabinet decision is meaningless”, he said.
Meanwhile, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Seram Nekan said that rural development works have almost failed due to lack of Panchayat elected representatives.
Due to lack of Gram Sabha, various schemes and developmental works have failed even as the state government is violating rules and laws of Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and 1996, he said.
There is a controversy in the formation of an administrative committee instead of extending elected representatives' function given by Panchayat Raj Act, as forming a committee itself violates given law, he said.
Seram Nekan urged for extending the function of elected representatives of 5th general panchayat election for functioning developmental work in proper channels and for implementing various schemes allotted from the central government for village empowerment.
