Pradesh Pradhan Sangathan members continued their indefinite period hunger strike near the Parade Ground on Thursday. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was among those who reached the protest site to express solidarity with the protesting Panchayat representatives. Rawat said that the Government should take measures to redress the issues raised by the PPS members.
Meanwhile, some PPS members continued their hunger strike and other members reached the protest site shouting anti-Government slogans.
The outfit’s president Girveer Parmar Parmar said that they would carry out rally upto Chief Minister’s residence in coming days if demands are not met soon.
He also said that despite the body of Panchayat representatives staging protest for many days now, no proactive step had been taken by the authorities so far. Their demands include immediate implementation of Uttarakhand Panchayatiraj Act 2016.
Besides, monthly allowances to the gram pradhans and various Government departments must be brought under the panchayats as per the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Act.
He warned that they protest would continue if their demand of the withdrawal of the order of reduction of funds for panchayats from the 14th Finance Commission Budget is not met.
Parmar further said that several memorandums have been submitted to the state government through administrative officers in the past. Yet, the Government has remained apathetic.