Shri Modi addresses Panchayati Raj convention at Mahatma Mandir
Event part of 50 years celebrations of Panchayati Raj.
CM stresses on use of technology, urges Talati Mantris to become computer literate for the growth of the state
Shri Modi says Panchayat Mantris are Chief Secretaries of their village. Rs. 1000 per month allowance for them announced
Gandhinagar, Sunday: Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi today announced a nine times increase in the special allowance of gram Panchayat Mantris from Rs.100 to Rs.900 per month as incentive to their duty plus Rs.100 per month cash allowance for maintaining accounts, besides conveyance allowance applicable to government Talati Mantris .
Addressing the valedictory function of the state-level workshop of gram Panchayat Mantris at Mahatma Mandir to mark the golden jubilee of Panchayat Raj in Gujarat, he said that it was for the first time in the history of Gujarat that Panchayat talati Mantris assembled at a state-level function. Earlier, he said, they contributed their share in bringing water and soil at the time of construction of Mahatma Mandir.
Mr. Modi said that working of the Panchayat Mantris have improved a lot, visible in the cleanliness of the villages. They made possible outsourcing of the job, too. He described 6-lakh pairs of hand of the employees as the strength of Gujarat Government. They contributed to 4,000 days political stability in the state.
He exhorted the Panchayat Mantris to take up the cause of water management in each village the way legendary Lakha Vanjhara had single-handedly built hundreds of ‘vavs’ (step wells) in the state.
Mr. Modi said that creating new districts and talukas, introducing the concept of Apno Taluko Vibrant Taluko (ATVT) and doubling the number of ‘prants’ from 55 to 110 for decentralization of administration, activated the neglected anganwadis and sakhi mandalis to generate a new wave of energy down to the village level. The government has launched EMPOWER project to make talati-mantries computer savvy, besides e-Gram, Vishwa Gram, SWAGAT online through broadband connectivity.
He described each Panchayat Mantri as the chief secretary of the village as they should provide able administration in their jurisdiction, in consultation with village elders and cooperation of all.
Mr. Modi suggested that Panchayat Mantris could celebrate January 26, May 1 and Diwali for which government could consider allocating some funds, too.
Shri Modi stressed on the importance of technology and said that it is now indispensible for human life. He cited different computer based development programmes and schemes of the Gujarat Government such as broadband connectivity, E-Seva and getting information through the Internet at village Panchayats.
Panchayat Minister Narottam Patel said that Panchayat Raj’s golden jubilee is like a Mahakumbha. He said that villages played a major role in the state’s march from swaraj (self-rule) to surajya (good governance) with gram panchayats being at the centre of activity. He said that Gujarat Government has spent Rs.34,000-crore in the all round development of villages in the state during the last four years through samras gam, paavan gam, teerth gam and other schemes.
Minister of State for Health Parbat Patel said that Gujarat Government has undertaken chiranjivi yojna, ma amritam yojna, 108 ambulance for better healthcare of the people.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Education Minister Ramanlal Vora, Ministers of State Jaysinh Chauhan and Mohanbhai Kundaria, Parliamentary Secretary Sundarsinh Chauhan, Deputy Whip Ambalal Rohit, MLAs, Chief Secretary A.K. Joti and Principal Panchayat Secretary R.M. Patel.
