Govt mulls comprehensive amendments to PR Act

Karnataka Government is mulling comprehensive amendments to the state Panchayat raj Act to plug loopholes and make it more effective, Minister for Panchayat raj and Rural Development H K Patil said today.
Patil was speaking to reporters after the first meeting of newly formed high-level panel led by former Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar to suggest amendments in the light of experience gained in implementing the Act in the last 20 years.
He said the committee would examine a wide gamut of issues such as protecting interests of rural people, all round development of villages and strengthening of decentralisation.
Patil said the committee was formed in the backdrop of voices in public and political circles that there was need to bring in amendments to make the Act more powerful.

Ramesh Kumar said the panel would submit its report as early as possible after taking into account a wide spectrum of views including those from political parties, various organisations and the public and it would visit different states too in its exercise.