Rural development works should become source of inspiration for other states : Gopal Bhargava
Bhopal: Panchayat, Rural Development and Social Justice Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava has said that employees posted in panchayats should change image of villages through hard work and dedication. Rural development works should be carried out in such a way that they become a source of inspiration for other states. Shri Bhargava was speaking at a state-level convention of the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Secretaries Federation & Village Employment Assistants Union here today. Madhya Pradesh Gau-Samvardhan Board Chairman Shri Shiv Chowbey was also present on the occasion.
Shri Bhargava said that the State Government is alive to the demands of Panchayat Secretaries and Village Employment Assistants. The State Government has provided facilities and given better pay scale to panchayat workers, who were getting less honorarium earlier. A decision has already been taken to include Panchayat Secretaries in welfare contributory pension scheme. In future, decisions on appointments on compassionate ground and increase in insurance amount will also be taken after due consideration. On the occasion, Shri Bhargava also laid emphasis on making maximum number of Nirmal Gram Panchayats in the state.
Shri Bhargava informed that panchayat workers were appointed on contract basis in the year 1995 on Rs.500 per month. The existing State Government has increased this honorarium upto Rs. 7 thousand per month. Besides, process is underway to appoint one Village Employment Assistant in every Gram Panchayat. So far, such appointments have been made in 19 thousand Gram Panchayats. With the help of Village Employment Assistant, Gram Panchayat can implement its various schemes effectively. Appointments of contractual sub-engineers are also being made on a large scale. As compared to other departments in the state, highest numbers of sub-engineers are appointed in the Panchayats & Rural Development Department. For the first time in the last 50 years, efforts have been made to strengthen the structure of the Panchayats & Rural Development Department.
At the outset, Patron Shri R.P. Shukla and other state office-bearers greeted Shri Gopal Bhargava and Shri Shiv Chowbey. Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Secretaries Federation President Shri Ashok Bohre, Shri Parmar of Village Employment Assistants Union and other representatives read out a charter of demands. Representatives from various districts of the state participated in the conference.
