Kavitha bats for MPP, ZPTC leaders

Hyderabad: It was her maiden speech in the Legislative Council and she did not hide her displeasure over the functioning of the department of Panchayat Raj. Kalvakuntla Kavitha minced no words in expressing her displeasure over the treatment meted out to the people's representatives of the Mandal Praja Parishads (MPPs) and Zilla Parishad during the question hour.

Similarly, intervening during the discussion on the per capita grant released based on the mandal population and implementation of the Employment Guarantee Scheme through Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishads, she said that the members of the local bodies do not even have proper place to sit. She asked Panchayat Raj Minister E Dayakar Rao to take steps to address the issue.

Kavitha said that the MPP and ZPTC members were feeling belittled and neglected and had no respect among people who elected them. They are not even allowed officially to hoist the Tricolour in the local schools, she said. The 14th Finance Commission, she said, had stipulated funds to be released directly to the Gram Panchayats. The CM had allocated funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore.

The minister should take steps to ensure infrastructural development in the new panchayats and urged the minister to allocate separate space for the people's representatives of the local bodies to carry out their day-to-day functions, she said.