Leader of the Opposition in the Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir today slammed the TRS government for its lopsided mishandling of the Gram Panchayats Act and denying funds to the grassroot units of gram panchayats in the State.
Addressing the media at the CLP here today along with Deputy leader in Council.Pongulati sudhaker Reddy, Shabbir Ali said only 17 of the 29 subjects have been transferred to GPs so far as provided in the Constitution amendments of 73 and 74 of the 1993 Act brought by Rajiv Gandhi government. He demanded that the TRS call an all-party meeting to discuss the new Gram Panchayats Bill before introducing it in the Assembly as it was intended to destroy the democratic principles and the values of Constitution amendments to empower Gram Panchayats. Already the sarpanches’ cheque power has been withdrawn by the TRS government, he lamented ,
Shabbir Ali said the cabinet Sub-Committee constituted by the government to draft a new Gram Panchayat Act, under the chairmanship of Panchayati Raj Minister Jupalli Krishna Rao has not consulted the Opposition parties at all. He also said the Congress has no objection for NRI as co-opted member but asked how it will help as the government failed to bring NRI policy since four years. He also slammed the TRS govt for failing to convert tribal thandas into gram panchayats .
He said the fate of 2.28 crore rural population living in 8,695 gam panchayats was hanging on balance as the TRS government was rushing to make a new Act without a public debate. “TRS govt makes Acts thoughtlessly in haste, leading to legal hurdles and end up in non-implementation and lapse of matching grants of the Centre funding for rural development works in State”, he added.
He said the government failure to adhere to democratic norms has led to lapse of Central funds. Government diverted 11th to 14th Finance Commission grants for paying electricity bills instead of taking development works. He also said the government hurrily brought about 32 distructs but failed to get President’s assest.
On the issue of the Private School fees mafia in Telangana State, Shabbir said the TRS government has given a free hand to Private school managements to loot the people. The committee set up by the TRS government under the chairmanship of Prof. T Tirupati Rao, former vice-chancellor of OU, has recommended 10% hike in fees this year. Though the government has ordered status quo, no school management took it seriously and completed admissions by increasing fees. (NSS)