Panchayat union demands parity in remuneration

Avneet Kaur

Nawanshahr, June 24,

Accusing the state government of discriminatory attitude towards the sarpanchs, the panchayat union has raised the demand of parity in remuneration with representatives of Municipal Councils.

The Panchayat Union president Banga has met the CM’s Senior Adviser, Lt Gen TS Shergill during his recent visit to Khatkar Kalan and Joint Commissioner (Development) Tanu Kashayap in Chandigarh. The memorandums urging them to ensure parity of remuneration with the Municipal Councils and regular release of funds under MGNREGA were submitted, informed Santokh Jassi, president Panchayat Union, Banga.

Talking to the Tribune he said a Municipal Councillor was paid a remuneration of Rs 5,000 per month along with allowances, which included Rs 1,000 for telephone and Rs 500 for attending a meeting, a sarpanch was paid a remuneration amounting to Rs 1,200 per month only. The remuneration of the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions has been pending for the past two years.

Besides, the panchayats have not been receiving funds under MGNREGA scheme regularly. He further alleged that under MGNREGA, the unskilled labourers were to be enrolled and provided work and labour. They were supposed to be paid on the 16th day of the work. If work was not provided, they were entitled for the unemployment allowance.

Likewise, the payment for the construction material procured for carrying different development schemes under MGNREGA is to be made within a month. But, due to apathy of the government, a sum of approximately Rs 122 crore against payment of construction material under MGNREGA scheme is lying pending since the previous financial year,” rued Jassi.

He added that the MGNREGA staff had also not been paid their salaries for the past 5 months.