Seek your rights, Aiyar tells panchyat raj representatives

HYDERABAD: Elected representatives of Panchayat Raj institutions should unite and struggle for getting more powers, Union Panchayat Raj Minister Manishankar Aiyar said here today.

"Powers are not given but taken. You are all soldiers of a social revolution. You have to seek your rights," he said, addressing the valedictory function of the two-day "Panchayat Mahila and Yuva Sakti Abhiyan" organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan here.

Aiyar was responding to the common complaint of the representatives that they lacked powers even to transfer an Anganwadi teacher or to sanction small development works.

Exhorting the Panchayat leaders to fight for more powers, he said the representatives should realise that they have the power to influence MLAs and MPs who decide transfers.

"There are an estimated 21,000 Panchayat representatives in Andhra against 294 MLAs. And you say you have no powers. You should realise that you enjoy the same Constitutional rights or status as given to MPs and MLAs," he said.

Aiyar said he would urge the state government to consider the 'Charter of Demands' of the convention.

Shakil Ahmed Khan, Director General of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, said the Yuva Sakti Abhiyan and Mahila Abhiyan is to strengthen the grass root democratic system which is people-oriented.

K Vijaya, Chairperson of Guntur Zilla Praja Parishad presented the charter of demands like providing training for illiterate woman gram sarpanches, vocational training for drowntrodden sections and decentralisation of powers.