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Deputy Chairman of the State Decentralised Planning and Development Committee B.R. Patil has emphasised the need to make effective use of gram sabhas to solve grassroots-level problems in the villages. Participating in a meeting on strengthening decentralisation and preparing an annual draft plan on the zilla panchayat premises in Chamarajanagar on Friday, Mr. Patil pointed out that every citizen was a member of the gram sabha and the residents were well aware of the basic problems related to drinking water, roads, drainage, housing, electricity, and other essential services in their villages. Hence, grassroots-level issues in villages under the jurisdiction of every gram panchayat should be addressed by making effective use of these gram sabhas, Mr. Patil said. With the government giving greater powers to gram sabhas for the development of villages, decisions taken at these gram sabhas regarding selection of beneficiaries were very important, Mr. Patil said, while directing the officials to proactively identify the poor and deprived so that government benefits could reach such sections. The handbook of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj stated that officials of various departments and the villagers should participate in the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of all the development programmes implemented through gram panchayats and gram sabhas, Mr. Patil said. The powers given to gram sabhas in rural areas had now been extended to ward sabhas in municipal areas, he said, while instructing the officers of local urban bodies to discuss with local residents and implement development works that benefit everyone. MLA for Chamarajanagar C. Puttarangashetty, who is also the Chairman of Mysore Sales International Ltd., said gram sabhas provided an excellent framework for strengthening the gram panchayats. Though decisions taken at gram sabhas were highly significant and there should be no question of rejecting the beneficiaries selected in gram sabhas, Mr. Puttarangashetty expressed disappointment over gram sabha meetings not being held regularly. Development projects should be discussed and approved in gram sabhas, the MLA said, while pointing out that panchayat governance will be strengthened if officials, villagers, and all stakeholders actively participate in gram sabhas and discuss development matters collectively. Mr. Patil was also briefed about the programmes in agriculture, horticulture, social welfare, health, and other departments by the officials.
