Panchayats must mop up additional funds: Minister

KASARAGOD (KERALA): The panchayat institutions should explore possibilities of mopping up additional revenue to execute developmental works on a fast track basis and to reduce disparities between towns and villages, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said on Saturday.

Instead of banking upon revenue by way of tax collection, the panchayat bodies should explore possibilites of mopping up additional revenue by building shopping complexes and provide other public utility services, he said inaugurating a new bus terminal at Cherkala, near here.

Funds needed for developmental works in villages in tune with the changing times cannot be mobilised just by way of tax collection. The panchayat bodies should find other means for resource mobilisation so that the disparity between cities and villages could be reduced and rising influx of village populace to the urban areas contained, he opined.