April 06, 2002

'11'

FREQUENT MEETINGS OF GRAM SABHAS SUGGESTED

   The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj has said that frequent meetings of Gram Sabhas are necessary in order to achieve a practicable transparency in the functioning of the village Panchayats. The implementation of development works by village Panchayats would be easier with the involvement of all the villagers through the meetings of Gram Sabhas. She said, Gram Sabhas must be called before chalking out the annual development programmes and then for periodical review of the progress and final implementation.

    Presiding over a Session "Gram Sabhas functioning, social audit and transparency" at the All India Panchayat Adhyakshas Sammelan, here today, Smt. Swaraj suggested the development of healthy traditions instead of enforcing certain conditions through the enactment of laws. Smt. Swaraj offered the help from Field Publicity and Song and Dram Division units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in organizing the Gram Sabhas by the Panchayats.

    Smt. Swaraj expressed happiness that more and more youths and women had been elected to the panchayats and are playing a leading and enthusiastic role in executing the development programmes. The youth have the aspirations, enthusiasm and the urge to do some useful work for the society, while the women understand the problems of the village society much better and come up with practical solutions, Smt. Swaraj said.