The Lok Satta Party (LSP) criticised the State government on Monday for ignoring the Centre's directive to observe the year beginning October 1st, 2009, as the Year of Grama Sabha.
Party leaders Bandaru Rammohan Rao, K Pattabhiramaiah and N Saroja Devi told media persons that the emasculation of the grama sabha did not portend well for democracy. It is high time the Government of India amended the constitution making implementation of grama sabha decisions mandatory.
The LSP leaders said that the government of India guidelines stipulated that panchayats which excelled in conducting and implementing decisions be honored at the end of the year.
According to the guidelines, a panchayat has to convene the gram sabha 4 times in a year, publicize the meeting, draw up an action plan for development, and review implementation of government programs and policies at the village level.
The Lok Satta leaders said that panchayats conducted grama sabhas mostly on paper, and that too, to select government scheme beneficiaries at the behest of politicians.
The leaders demanded that panchayat boards which failed to convene grama sabhas be abolished. The government should ensure that grama sabha meetings take place at least this year.