Increase Local Body Fund Allocation To 30%, Says CPI(M) MLA
T. Latha urges full devolution of powers to rural and urban local bodies
CPI(M) MLA T. Latha of Kilvelur on Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to increase the share of its tax revenue allocated to local bodies from the existing 10% to 30% to enable panchayats and other local bodies to effectively provide drinking water, sanitation and basic infrastructure.
Participating in the Assembly debate on the demands for grants for Water Resources, Rural Development and Panchayats, and Tourism, Art and Culture, Latha also demanded the full devolution of the 29 subjects meant for rural local bodies and 18 subjects for urban local bodies under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
She urged the government to ensure that funds from the Central Finance Commission, State Finance Commission and State treasury are released directly to the concerned panchayats.
Latha criticised the Union government's proposed VPG-Ramji scheme, alleging that it was intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). She said Tamil Nadu's allocation under the scheme had been reduced by 4.1% and urged the Assembly to adopt a resolution opposing its implementation.
The CPI(M) MLA also urged the government to hold local body elections immediately and strengthen elected local governance. Welcoming the increase in assistance for rural concrete houses to Rs 5 lakh, she sought that the amount be raised to Rs 10 lakh, citing the rising cost of construction materials.
Latha also raised several constituency-specific demands, including additional trains to Velankanni, a mini-stadium at Kilvelur, a new building for the local fire station and a smaller fire tender for rural areas.
She sought the construction and repair of regulators in the Maravanaru, Odampokki and Pandavaiyar rivers, strengthening of the bund of the Alam water body, and restoration of irrigation schemes serving farmers in the constituency.
