Deccan Herald » State » Detailed Story

HOUSING SCHEMES

MLAs to head Ashraya panels

Bangalore, DHNS:

Ashraya committees were necessary as gram sabhas and gram panchayats, which were originally bestowed with the power to identify the beneficiaries, were not functioning properly.

MLAs will head Ashraya committees in their respective constituencies to identify beneficiaries for government housing schemes.

The required amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly on Thursday after much debate. Piloting the bill, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister C M Udasi said the move to set up Ashraya committees was necessary as gram sabhas and gram panchayats, who were originally bestowed with the power to identify the beneficiaries, were not functioning properly. He cited an example of how the gram sabhas had messed up while identifying beneficiaries for BPL cards.

The Bill was opposed by Dr Sharanuprakash Patil (Cong) who said by questioning the functioning of the gram panchayats the government was casting aspersions on constitutional provisions for a three-tier panchayat raj system.

Leader of Opposition N Dharam Singh called for a balance between powers bestowed on PRIs and legislators. The Congress staged a walkout before the amendment providing for MLAs to head the Asraya Committees. The Assembly also passed Karnataka Stamp (Amendment) Bill -2007 giving effect to the provision of the New Industrial Policy 2006-2011 for stamp duty exemption to industries set up in most backward and more backward taluks.