Munde slams govt for changing gram sabha dates

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde today criticised the Maharashtra government for changing the dates of gram sabhas.

So far, the gram panchayats used to hold gram sabhas on May 1 (Maharashtra Day), August 15 (Independence day), Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) and Republic day (January 26).

However, a government resolution (GR) issued on April 27 says that the gram sabhas should henceforth be held on any day in May and August. It also says that instead of October 2, a meeting should be held on any day in November. However, there is no change with regard to January 26 meeting date.

"The government has changed the month of gram sabha meet from October to November. Besides it has ordered that instead of May 1 and August 15, such meetings can be held on any day in these two months. All this belittles the importance of national days. This is unprecedented and condemnable," he said.

"The government changed the dates saying there is burden on the gram sevaks. But this is against the spirit of democracy," Munde said.

An official from the Rural Development department, however, said that many times gram sabhas end up in villagers squabbling with each other.

"In no way the government wants to minimise the importance of national days. On the contrary, it is the opposite. The government has not done away with gram sabhas," the official said.