Sarpanchs' Association Formed

Goals of NREGA could not be fulfilled in the true spirit if the district administration does not work along with the action plans prepared in the villages , Bhagvan Muduli , Sarpanch of Podagad panchayat in Dasmantpur block of Koraput district said at Koraput today . He was at Koraput to attend the first ever seminar of the sarpanchs in the district to find opportunities to stand together under the umbrella of Orissa Adivasi Manch(OAM) .

Alleging that the sarpanchs, being from tribal communities in the district they were treated as ignorant and without having any intellect by the administration, he said that for this kind of attitude by the administration all plannings prepared in the villages were sidelined at the time of implementation by the administration . Expressing his surprise over asking the panchayats to deposit 16% royalty charges against the soil work carried out to create jobs for the jobless , he added that such measures would harm the good intentions of the scheme.

Adding to the worries of negligence , Padman Pataputia , sarpanch of Masiput panchayat in Kundura block said that the administration was not working towards the real needs of the people but was rather working to satisfy its own convenience and aspiration. Narrating on how the action plan prepared by the panchayat to develop the most backward village Denga Kusumguda was over looked by the administration while starting the work in a more developed village Goudaguda , he said that the sarpanchs were treated like beggars only to receive subsidized rice and BPL cards to distribute among masses .

Highlighting the poor administrative support that was offered to the PRI members in the district , Hari Angel , the sarpanch of Balda panchayat in Nandapur block alleged that the district administration was also keenly trying to suppress their legitimate demands whenever initiations were made to access to the legitimate rights of common masses . While the constitution had granted them as many as 29 powers, for the lack of access to information and administrative negligence most of the sarpanchs had no knowledge of more than two powers, he added .

While demanding for a hike in the monthly allowances for the sarpanchs and greater prioritisation to the post by the district administration , Mangaraj Randhari , a sarpanch from Kotpad block warned of a collective agitation against the neglecting approach of the administration towards the PRI members in the district .

Madan Kirsani , Convenor of Orissa Adivasi Manch (OAM) and Damadar Jani , President of the forum addressed the gathering . Elctions to the first body of the association of Sarpanchs was conducted under the supervision of Balaji panigrahy , Advocate and social worker from Koraput . The association thus formed had took the pledge to work towards the betterment of women & children in the district .
(EOM)