Patiala: The Gram Sabha of Thuha Patti of Nabha division of this district on Saturday passed a resolution to keep the revenue share of Panchayat Department on the ground that this money should be kept for the development of the village.
Panchayat secretary Amrik Singh said he had advised the gram sabha against passing the resolution, but the villagers disagreed with him. He said: “Revenue from Panchayats is collected as per law.” Gurmeet Singh Thuhi, a villager who presented the proposal, said: “The village has very little income from common land and other sources, and even the government takes 30 per cent.”
He said: “All the villagers are members of the Gram Sabha and the Panchayati Act empowers them to pass any resolution with 20% turnout. Many villages, including ours, have not received any government grant for almost a decade, albeit continuously. Governance parties claim false credit for supporting development.” Sarpanch Yadwinder Singh said: “Our revenue should be for the development of our village alone.”
Narinder Singh Sandhu, retired assistant professor of State Institute of Panchayats and Rural Development, said: “The state government has exploited village panchayats for many years. No law was ever passed in the state assembly to collect 30 per cent of village revenue, Yet it is being done on the orders of Punjab Rural and Panchayat Department. Panchayats were independent under the British. This revenue collection has gone up to 10 to 30% in a few years and it goes to Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads for their employees’ salaries.”
Panchayat department director GS Khaira said: “The collection is legal.”
Panchayat secretary Amrik Singh said he had advised the gram sabha against passing the resolution, but the villagers disagreed with him. He said: “Revenue from Panchayats is collected as per law.” Gurmeet Singh Thuhi, a villager who presented the proposal, said: “The village has very little income from common land and other sources, and even the government takes 30 per cent.”
He said: “All the villagers are members of the Gram Sabha and the Panchayati Act empowers them to pass any resolution with 20% turnout. Many villages, including ours, have not received any government grant for almost a decade, albeit continuously. Governance parties claim false credit for supporting development.” Sarpanch Yadwinder Singh said: “Our revenue should be for the development of our village alone.”
Narinder Singh Sandhu, retired assistant professor of State Institute of Panchayats and Rural Development, said: “The state government has exploited village panchayats for many years. No law was ever passed in the state assembly to collect 30 per cent of village revenue, Yet it is being done on the orders of Punjab Rural and Panchayat Department. Panchayats were independent under the British. This revenue collection has gone up to 10 to 30% in a few years and it goes to Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads for their employees’ salaries.”
Panchayat department director GS Khaira said: “The collection is legal.”