PM tells babus to give powers to panchayats

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday made a strong pitch for a change in the bureaucratic mindset in order to devolve power to the Panchayati Raj institutions. HT reports.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday made a strong pitch for a change in the bureaucratic mindset in order to devolve power to the Panchayati Raj institutions.

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Addressing a gathering of Panchayat heads from across the country on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Diwas, Singh said the bureaucracy is still unwilling to share its powers with elected local bodies.

"The purpose of Panchayati Raj is decentralisation of powers under which people get the right to run administration themselves. We have to make efforts so that this does not remain a mere slogan but turns out to be a reality in our lifetime. For this, we will have to give responsibilities and powers to the elected representatives," he said.

Singh added that he frequently receives complaints on unwillingness of bureaucracy to part with their powers.