large numbers of sapanches coming from nearly 6,000 gram panchayats on Thursday took to the streets here in front of the State Assembly demanding abolition of the provision of motion of confidence against them. Also demanding a hike in their monthly incentive from Rs1,500 to Rs5,000 and a provision of monthly pension of Rs1,000, the sarpanches under the banner of the Odisha Tristariya Panchayat Parishad, Sarpanch Mahasangha also urged the Government to provide a Government quarters in the State capital for the Mahasangha.
“On many occasions, ward members force sarpanches to quit by bringing motion of confidence against them. Such a provision is arbitrary. Since we are elected by people directly, why should we be removed by the ward members, who are also elected by the public,” asked Mahasangha president Raghuram Satapathy.
They also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking his intervention in the issues at the earliest.