‘Bias’ in grant disbursal, ZP assn seeks funds on pattern of MPs

Sunit Dhawan

Rohtak, July 6

Members of the Zila Parishads in the state have sought a local area development (LAD) fund on the pattern of MPs and petty grants on the pattern of MLAs to ensure the development of their wards and welfare of local residents.

At a meeting held at Rohtak on Saturday, the Haryana Zila Parshad Association also demanded that their honorarium be increased to Rs 50,000 per month.

“The Zila Parishad is an elected House of people’s representatives like the Lok Sabha and state Vidhan Sabhas. However, the Zila Parishad members are a neglected lot. They get an honorarium of Rs 6,000 per month and have no discretionary funds or petty grants,” said Samarveer Singh, the state coordinator of the association.

Alleging discrimination in the allotment of funds for development works in different wards, he said a pick-and-choose policy was adopted by ZP chiefs.

“Making a provision of funds for ZP members individually would end this discrimination and lead to decentralisation of financial powers in the House, thus ensuring uniform development in all wards,” asserted Samarveer.

He also sought the provision of personal assistants to ZP members from among Saksham Yuvas, maintaining that the youngsters appointed as assistants of ZP members would also get oriented towards social service and understand the mechanism to get the residents’ grievances redressed.

Anil Hooda, the vice-chairman of Rohtak Zila Parishad, who chaired today’s meeting, said members of the association would meet the Chief Minister and Panchayat Minister and apprise them of their concerns.

“We have also handed over a charter of our demands to the local authorities. We expect the state government to fulfil our demands to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the larger interest of the people. If our demands are not met, we may resort to a statewide agitation,” said Hooda.

Members of Zila Parishads in different districts have been alleging discrimination in the allotment of funds for development works.

Need to ensure uniform progress

Making a provision of funds for ZP members individually would end this discrimination and lead to decentralisation of financial powers in the House, thus ensuring uniform development in all wards — Samarveer Singh, coordinator, Haryana Zila Parshad Association