Admitting that Taluk Panchayat bodies under Panchayatraj system are losing significance compared to Gram and Zilla Panchayats in Karnataka, H.K. Patil, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayatraj said that the Government is bringing amendment in Panchayatraj Act to strengthen the TP bodies.
Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, the Minister said that following the reports that TP bodies becoming a ‘defunct institutions’ in Panchayatraj system, the Government decided to overhaul the TP bodies.
“The Government which constituted the committee under the chairmanship of Congress MLA, Ramesh Kumar to recommend the amendments in Panchayatraj system, has already submitted the report to the government. The government would soon take a final call on it”, he said.
He asserted that since TPs are significant bodies in panchayatraj system, required changes would be made to retain them as an effective body in the system.
To a question, he informed that the Government has already started the process of recruiting engineers and PDOs for the newly carved 454 panchayats in the State.
He said that within a couple of days, appointment orders would be issued to 462 junior engineers while the process of appointing 264 assistant engineers would be completed within a month.
“ We are also in a process of recruiting 1,020 PDOs in the State, the decision is yet to be taken as to which agency conducts exams for their recruitment,” he said.
Gram Panchayat Elections
Mr. Patil has said that the Government was still contemplating what kind of action should be taken against those who do not vote in the GP elections after the Government amending the act to make voting compulsory in GP elections.
Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, he claimed that while some 10 countries impose fine on electorate for not voting, some 12 countries do not penalise the voters for violation of the act.
“The Government is contemplating how to make the Act effective, the decision would be taken in future after broader consultation,” he said.
He added that NOTA (none of the above) option would be introduced in next GP elections.
