The Constitutional
Rights of 5653 Grama Panchayats of Karnataka
cannot
be curtailed – this is our decree!
All the Panchayats in Karnataka will remain closed on June
29 as a mark of protest against the proposed amendment to curtail the rights of
the Grama Sabhas of this State. On July 5th ‘Bangalore Chalo’ will
bring thousands of members of the Andolana to the State’s Capital to urge the
legislators to take a stand against the proposed amendment to the Panchayat Raj
Act. These are two of the collective actions being carried out by the Panchayati
Raj Hakkottaya Andolana, a State wide campaign with a membership of over 80 Gram
Panchayat Federations from 22 Districts in
‘As
we mark the anniversary of the National Emergency of 1975, we are yet again
facing a new and serious threat to democracy in Karnataka’, said Ms. Nandana
Reddy at a State Level Press Conference held in
‘This
amendment is one of the many moves designed to whittle away powers from
individual citizens, weakening the very foundation of democracy. It blatantly
denies the right of the Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats to identify
beneficiaries for Government Programmes – and passes this right on to 'any
Committee or authority of the Government constituted in this behalf.’ she said.
The 'Panchayati Raj Hakkottaya Andolana' - a
state-wide Movement was launched on May 16 at a State level meeting to counter
this amendment and prevent the State from curtailing the powers of the
Panchayats. As a part of its activities, in over 200 Panchayats,
special Grama Sabhas have been held to discuss this amendment and resolutions
have been passed against it. Copies of these resolutions have been sent to the
Honourable Governor, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Minister for Panchayati Raj
and Rural Development and the respective MLAs and MLCs.
Over
1, 50,000 signatures condemning this amendment have been sent to the Honourable
Governor. Mass Rallies have been held in several districts of Karnataka
including Haveri, Raichur, Udupi, Davangere and Mandya to name a few. In
several districts Gram Panchayat and Sabha members have met with their
respective MLAs and MLCs. Phone calls have been made to the legislators,
seeking their views on the amendment and to inform them about its
unconstitutionality. Representatives of the Steering Committee, Ms. Leena
Kumari of the Mahila Samakhya, Ms. Shilpa of the Hunger Project and Ms. Poornima, Panchyat President, Koppal
highlighted the programmes of the Andolana in various districts. Dr. Manu
Kulkarni highlighted the importance of this struggle for the survival of local
governance. Mr. Lakshapathi of APSA presented about the responses of the legislators
during the phone calls and the stands they are taking in relation to the
amendment. Several representatives of the Grama Panchayat federations and
elected women representatives requested the media to extend their solidarity to
this struggle.
The ‘Grama Sabha Hakku Motaku
Salladu – Idu Namma Sannadu’ (The rights of the Grama Sabha cannot be
curtailed- This is our decree) programme is scheduled to take place on June 29th
simultaneously in the entire State. The Gram Panchayat will be closed on this
day and the public will be informed of this closure in advance to avoid any
inconvenience this closure may cause. Members of the Legislative Assembly and
Legislative Council will be invited meet with the Gram Panchayat and Sabha
members and they will be urged to express their unilateral opposition to this
amendment and to take an oath to protect the Constitution.
On 5th July, the first
day of the next Legislative session, thousands of Andolan members will gather
in
On
the same day, a long ‘Gram Panchayat Convention’ will take place at the NGO
Hall (Opposite Vidhana Soudha),
(Please
see the attachment: Details of the Panchayati Raj Hakkottaya Andolana for more
information)
Kavita
Ratna
On
Behalf of the Steering Committee
THE PANCHAYATI RAJ HAKKOTTAYA
ANDOLANA
Convenors
The Concerned for Working Children
Steering
Committee
The Concerned for Working Children
Mahila Samakhya Karnataka
Singamma Srineevasa Foundation
The Hunger Project
Grama Swaraj Vedike
Advisory
group
Mr. L.C. Jain, Former member,
National Planning Commission and Former Indian Ambassador to
Dr. Vinod Vyasulu-Centre for
Policy and Budget studies
Mr. Chiranjeev Singh, Former
Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka
Mr. Meenakshisundaram, Former Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of
Dr. Manu Kulkarni, Senor Fellow,
Members
Gram Swarajya Samrakshana Vedike,
Kundapura, Udupi
Grama Ganarajya Vedike,
Kisan Coordination Committee (KCC)
Gram Swaraj Vedike
Grama Panchayat Federation –
Thirthalli, Shimoga District
Grama Panchayat Federation –
Shimoga District
Grama Panchayat Federation –
Bhadravathi, Shimoga District
Grama Panchayat Federation - Hosa
Nagar, Shimoga District
Grama Panchayats’ Federation
Sagar, Shimoga District
District Elected Representatives’
Federation, Chika Magalur District
Taluk Elected Representatives’
Federation, Chika Magalur District
Shri Basava Sadana Institution,
Chika Magalur District
District Panchayat Raj Federation,
Udupi District
Karkala Taluk Panchayat Raj
Federation, Udupi District
Udupi Taluk Panchayat Raj
Federation, Udupi District
Kundapura Taluk Panchayat Raj
Federation, Udupi District
Panchayat Representatives’ Taluk
Federation, Davanagere District
Panchayat Members Federation
Honnali, Davanagere District
Panchayat Representatives’ Taluk
Federation, Jagaluru, Davanagere District
Panchayat Representatives’ Taluk
Federation, Chennagiri, Davanagere District
Panchayat Representatives’ Taluk
Federation, Harappanahalli, Davanagere District
Panchayat Representatives’ Taluk
Federation, Harihara, Davanagere District
Panchayat Raj Federation, Sirsi,
Uttara Kannada District
Panchayat Raj Federation,
Bhatkala, Uttara Kannada District
Panchayat Vice Presidents’ Raj
Federation, Honnavara, Uttara Kannada Canara District, Panchayat Raj
Federation, Kumta, Uttara Kannada District,
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation, Chitradurga Taluk, Chitradurga
Panchayat Raj Federation, Dakshina
Kannada District
Belthangadi Taluk Panchayat Raj Federation, Dakshina Kannada District
Bantwala Taluk Panchayat Raj
Federation Dakshina Kannada District
Mangalore Taluk Panchayat Raj
Federation, Dakshina Kannada District
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
District Federation, Dakshina Kannada District
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ District Federation, Kodagu District
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Vice Presidents’ Federation Virajapete Taluk. Kodagu District
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation Markera Taluk, Kodagu District
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation Somavarapete Taluk. Kodagu District
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ District Federation, Mandya District.
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation Hassan Taluk.
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation Hassan Taluk.
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation
Grama Panchayat Presidents’ and
Vice Presidents’ Federation Koppala Taluk. Koppala District
Association for Promotion of Social
Action (APSA)
Mahila Samakhya Karnataka
Singamma Srineevasa Foundation
The Hunger Project
The Concerned for Working Children
Suvarna Bharati Rural Development
and Cultural Organisation- Koppala District
Olekar Educational Welfare Society
–Koppala District
NGO Federation – Koppala District
Chetana Organisation- Koppala
District
Sarvodaya. I.R.D Society – Koppala
District
World Vision- Gulbarga
MYRADA-Gulbarga
NGOs Federation-Gulbarga
Parivartan,
FOR
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
The Concerned for Working
Children,
303/2, Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar,
Vimanapura post,
Bangalore-560017
Phone: 080 25234270, 25234272
Email: cwcblr@vsnl.com