Bhim Singh

The state government on Wednesday demanded a central aid of Rs 6500cr for the construction of the Panchayat Bhavans in the state.

During the third national panchayati raj day meet in New Delhi, state panchayati raj and rural works minister Bhim Singh said: “Though the centre has provided Rs 12 lakh for the construction of each building under Rajeev Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA), it was too little as the construction cost for each building is estimated over Rs 82 lakh.”

Singh said under the proposed central scheme, the state plan to construct 1435 Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan by March, 2015. “The World Bank is providing a loan for the construction of 330 such buildings. But there is a requirement of at least 6600 more such buildings in the state and we need Rs 6500cr in the next four years for the purpose,” Singh added.

The buildings will house the offices of various panchayat representatives.

“It was felt that there was a need for the permanent building of the panchayats to house the offices of mukhiyas, panchayat secretaries and other representatives. The proposed buildings will function as the secretariat of the panchayats,” said Singh.

He stressed that the state government had announced to double the fixed allowance, daily allowance and travel allowances for the elected representatives of the three-tier Panchayati Raj institution. This will cost Rs 182 crore to the state exchequer.

Under the RGPSA, the centre should also provide Rs 76 crore to the state for constructing Panchayti Raj training centres in all 38 districts of the state, Singh said.