GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
                                     DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRINTING
                                                                        // NAHARLAGUN //


                                                                      PRESS RELEASE

NO. TWG/IPR-10/87                                                                                                                                 Dtd. Tawang the 08 Nov’05


Tawang 08 Nov:- Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar Hon’ble Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj who was on his two days visit to Tawang exhorted the spirit of PR leaders at different blocks by visiting the Gram Sabhas Block at Shyo, Lhou village where he had warmly interacted with the PR the members as well as with villagers knowing their problems pertaining  to daily basic needs of life.

     While responding to the PR leader plea for devolution of power to panchayati Raj elected members he suggested that before asking for Power devolution, the respective PR leaders must make a activity mapping of all Panchayat  bodies at different levels so that in future there mustn’t  be any dispute regarding the power ,he said it while  citing  the example of other states of India who has successfully implemented their power by way of activity mapping.

     The Minister also assured that he would provide fund for construction of Panchayati Raj building and  computerization of all PR centers at Tawang in next financial year as the current financial year is already over .Meanwhile he requests the Deputy Commissioner K.Kholie for arrange to provide a room to the Zilla Parishad chairman in DRDA block and  said the at district level  D.C. should also arrange to provide training to all Gram Panchayats,Anchal Samities members of all village with the help of district Officers and ex-officio member for which the fund will also be provided by the Govt. 

     At Shyo Tot  of Gram Sabha the Minister interacted with all the Anchal Samity members and villagers and asked them about their problems and needs regarding the Panchayati Raj system and expressed his concern that the village had very low litracy rate. The Gram Panchayat of Shyo village requests the Minister to provide fund for construction of play ground for school children, CGI sheets for their shelter and CC steps (Concrete cements steps).

     At Lhou Gram Sabhas  under Thingbu-Mukto Block the Gram Sabha members while expressing their grievances to the Minister requesting him to increased old age pension grant,CGI Sheets, Road connectivity water supply and job opportunity to all educated youths. When the Minister asked how they execute their schemes the Gram Panchayat  told that they execute every scheme through the Block development officers at Block level. Listening to the problems faced the villagers in getting their basic needs of life the minister said the under Jan Kerosene Pariyojna a Central Govt. scheme every district of State will be covered. At  Kitpi Block Panchayat  meeting at Tawang, the Minister enquired the Panchayat elected bodies that how they are functioning, their present responsibilities and priorities.Shri Nawang Norbu, the chairperson, Kitpi Panchayat Block informed the minister that due to non devolution of Power to PR leaders  their participation is restricted and urged that cheque power facility be given to the Panchayat leaders as proposed by the Govt.
                          The Minister responding to his plead said cheque facility is  not feasible yet and the  Govt. has unanimously decided to make Gram Sabha  like parliament so as to it make more transparent so that every members could redress their problem easily through a common platform  but he regretted that till today Gram Panchayat  has not been given any power in state .He advised that every Gram Panchayat members should be well aware of plans policies implementation within their Block and asked the BDO to open bank account for all the 20 Gram Panchayats members so that every member will be aware of how much  amount under sampoorna Gramin  Rozjar Yojana  available with them.

     The chairman Tawang Zilla Parishad  Thengtse Rinpoche while speaking on the scenario of PR system in Tawang apprised the Minister that with little bit of power with Zilla Parishad  it is difficult to do a  meaningful  work  for welfare of people and said that some changes needed today  for proper functioning of Panchayat functioning.Other members who also speak on the occasion stressed on need for devolution of power, additional allocation of fund for  proper infrastructure facility, cash in lieu of food component, and aspires that Late Rajiv Gandhi  dream of Sampoorna Gramin Vikas will comes true if Panchayats are empowered properly.

      Jarbom Gamlin, Hon’ble Minister for Home & PR Arunachal Pradesh who accompanied the cabinet minister while speaking on the panchayati Raj scenario of the state first  lauded sincerity  of the Deputy Commissioner, Tawang K.Kholie for his quick initiative for responding  letter given by the PRI, Itanagar. He  informed that Gram Panchayat members bank account codification has been started but till today there is no any office of Panchayat members for its proper functioning .Further, he  assured that the Govt. is committed to devolution of power to panchayat  elected bodies very soon ,and though the one time grant for infrastructure under 11th finance commission has increased but due to non-devolution of power the fund with the Govt could not be disbursed ,he added.

     Today in the morning before leaving Tawang  the minister also visited Tawang Monastery.The  Hon’ble Mnister was accompanied by Shri Dorjee Khandu Hon’ble Minister RR, Power,NCER, PS to Minister, Pet. NG, & PR  Shri Ashutosh Dikshit, Deputy Commissioner Tawang K.Kholie,SP Tashi Lama and other PR delegates of Tawang.

Sd/-
( Y. JERANG )
DIPRO, TAWANG