The Federation of Panchayat Presidents, Tiruchi district, has urged the district administration to pass necessary orders enabling panchayat heads to issue work orders under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY).
Previously, once the beneficiaries were selected by the panchayat and gram sabha, work orders were issued by panchayat presidents after obtaining administrative sanction from the Collector. However, now, work orders are given by the Block Development Officer (Panchayat). Alleging that many panchayats in the district were ignored in respect of fund allotment for buildings maintenance works under the Rural Building Maintenance and Renovation Scheme, the federation wanted fair distribution of funds to all panchayats under the scheme.
It further said panchayats got funds from the State Finance Commission to carry out works relating to rural infrastructure by floating tenders through the panchayat. However, tenders were being floated through the Block Development Officer (Panchayat) for 2013-14 by virtue of a government order issued in July.
The powers given to panchayat presidents in this regard from 2009-10 had been taken away, it claimed.
A meeting of the federation presided over by P.Marimuthu, president, Kanthalur panchayat, was held in the city.
