Peeved over the gram sabhas’ budget being slashed by 60 per cent by the State Government, members of Gram Pradhan Union staged demonstrations in the districts on Monday while declaring that they were relinquishing their posts collectively. They also demanded implementation of Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act 2016. At some places, the protesters attempted self –immolation. However, police intervened and arrested them to be released later.
Asked to comment on the protest, the State Finance Minister Prakash Pant said that the members of Gram Sabha Union had not met him over their demands so far. “They should meet me to discuss their grievances,” he added, while also questioning whether the protest was motivated more by political factors.
In Dehradun, the protesters assembled at Vikas Bhawan and shouted slogans in support of their demands. While quitting their posts collectively, they submitted a memorandum to the district panchayati raj officer. One of the protesters said that apart from above demands, they are demanding the gram pradhans’ allowances be increased from Rs 750 to Rs 5,000 per month.
In Udham Singh Nagar, the protesters assembled at Vikas Bhawan at Rudrapur after which a few of them attempted self- immolation. Police arrested and released them later. The district gram pradhan president Dilbagh Singh said that they would further intensify their stir in support of their demands in the coming days. “We have decided not to use our official stamps as a part of our stir until our demands are met,” he said.
In Uttarkashi, the protesters assembled at Kali Kamli Dharamshala and rallied to the Collectorate. In Champawat too, the protesters led by the district president of the union lalit Mohan Joshi protested at the Collectorate.