Jharkhand losing Rs 400 cr worth Central funds

HAZARIBAGH (JHARKHAND): Jharkhand has been deprieved of an annual Rs 400 crore of Central funds every year for not holding the Panchayat elections in the last 25 years, Chief Executive Officer of National Rainfed Area Authority said on Tuesday.

As the leader of a two-member central team, J S Samra, has come to review the progress of Hazaribagh District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) here.

According to him, since it has been made mandatory to constitute District Planning Council (DPC) to carry out schemes under Central funds, its formation with elected members of the Panchayats is necessary.

They will have full say over the implementation of rural development programmes along with the formation of Gram Sabhas which select schemes for the development of respective areas.

Therefore sooner the Panchayat elections are held, the better it would be for Jharkhand, Samra said.