Madhu Srivastava, Waghodia MLA, has written to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, requesting that Sarpanchs and members of the state-owned district, taluka, and Gram Panchayats get paid monthly.
He said in the letter that members who come to the office for work are financially disadvantaged and that not receiving a wage contributes to corruption and irregularities in Gram Panchayats. It may be possible if all taluka, district, and Gram Panchayat members and the Sarpanch members get paid more. Srivastav requests the Chief Minister to act on his proposal and discuss the matter in the Legislative Assembly.
Srivastava wrote to the Chief Minister, claiming that the government does not provide any salary allowance or honorarium to the members of District Panchayat / Taluka Panchayat and Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat in his 136 assembly constituency. The honoring ceremony for newly appointed sarpanches and members held at Waghodia included a presentation in this regard.
They must also visit government offices regularly at the district and taluka levels to inquire about governmental programs for rural residents. The economic status of OBC, tribal, Dalit District Panchayat, Taluka Panchayat, and Sarpanches is dire.
As a result, they are unable to attend government offices on time at the taluka district level. They are underprivileged and uninformed; they are unaware of different government initiatives available at government offices. As a result, the benefits of government programs are not available in villages in the interior.
In addition, if the sarpanch members get paid, there will be fewer instances of corruption and financial irregularities in the Gram Panchayats. He suggested that the Chief Minister consider awarding monthly honoraria to members of the District, Taluka, and Gram Panchayat and that this get debated at the next assembly. The decision will be taken in the best interests of the general public.
Written by:
Shristi Chatterjee
