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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj convened Seven Round Table Meetings with State Ministers in charge of Panchayati Raj and evolved by consensus a set of around 150 points for action, which have been put together in a Compendium that was adopted unanimously at the conclusion of the last Round Table in Jaipur. The Ministry has now initiated a process of visiting each of the States/UTs to review with the authorities concerned the progress in implementing the points for action contained in the Compendium. It is expected that this would accelerate the pace of implementation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution and bring about greater conformity to the Constitutional provisions of the Panchayati Raj in all States/UTs concerned.
This information was given in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of Panchayati Raj, Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar in reply to a question of Shri Shahid Siddiqui and Ramadhar Kashyap.
Article 243H of the Constitution provides powers to impose taxes by, and mobilise funds of the Panchayats. It also provides that the Legislature of a State may authorize a Panchayat to levy, collect and appropriate such taxes, provide for making grants in aid to the Panchayats from the consolidated funds of the States and provide for constitution of such funds for crediting the money received respectively, by or on behalf of the Panchayats and also for the withdrawal of such money there from, as may be specified in the Law. In Pursuance of the provision of the Constitution State Governments have given powers and funds to Panchayats to manage their affairs; the minister added.
SBK:CP:rajya(p)1.3
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