The Gram Panchayats must be empowered in order to save the villages of Uttarakhand where the State Government is conspiring to weaken the Panchayat. Activist Anil Joshi said this at a Gram Pradhan convention organised by Himalayan Unity Movement (HUM) as part of its Gaon Bachao campaign. More than 200 Gram Pradhans from all 13 districts of Uttarakhand attended the meet.

Joshi exhorted the Gram Pradhans to work towards intensifying the campaign to save villages. He said, “Candidates contesting the assembly and parliamentary elections approach the Gram Pradhan seeking votes. Rural issues should be raised in 2017 assembly elections and the amendment in Panchayati Raj Act should be implemented. Gram Pradhans should form agitation committees based on these issues and hold meetings at the local level,” he said.

Ishwar Joshi said that State’s Gram Panchayats do not have land rights on the village land. A Pradhan receives Rs 750 allowance with Rs 350 allowance to deputy Pradhan, he said, while stressing that the State’s own Panchayati Raj act should be brought up before the assembly elections. Others who spoke on the occasion, lambasted the State Government for not facilitating the required developments in the rural areas, stressing that the State’s development will remain incomplete without progress in villages.

A Panchayati Raj Act Sangharsh Samiti was formed unanimously with 26 representatives from 13 districts being included in it. It was also decided that during the assembly budget session on March 9, representatives from 95 blocks will stage protest and submit their memorandum to the governor. The Gram Pradhans and others associated with HUM also took out a rally in support of their demands.