ProMASS News Bureau: Jan 5, 2016:
Union Minister of State for Panchayat Nihal Chand today urged the Tripura government to select a gram panchayat in each district to build up as model village by next five years. He asked the State government to send concrete plan and projects to the Centre for the purpose. Nihal Chand today chaired an interactive meet with the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions at Agartala.
State Panchayat Minister Manik Dey and Rural Development Minister Naresh Jamatia, GSG Ayenger, State’s Principal Secretary, Dr. D. K. Sharma, Jt. Secretary, Union Ministry of Panchayat were also present in the meet. Amongst others, elected representatives of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council under 6th Schedule Areas and Officers of Panchayat and Rural Development Departments took part in the meet.
In his deliberation, the Union Minister expressed happiness to hear that Tripura has successfully executed the policy of 50% seat reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. He happily noted that the State has been securing top rank in work-days creation under MGNREGA since 2010. He also assured to take positive action so that PRIs of the State would get due benefits awarded by the 14th Finance Commission. He asked the panchayat representatives to set up Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Seva Kendra in each panchayat for accessing electronic connectivity and the benefit schemes of the central government. Manik Dey, Tripura Panchayat Minister requested the central Minister to approve the proposal for setting up of panchayat training institutes each in new four districts in the State.
Sources said the Minister Nihal Chand tomorrow would visit various work sites such as horticulture plantation under MGNREGA, tea garden developed by small growers through MGNREGA, other plantation and asset creation work sites developed under various schemes in different panchayat areas.
In a separate incident, the Union Minister State for Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman has also arrived at Agartala this evening. She had a courtesy call to the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar at the civil secretariat. Tomorrow, she will attend the inaugural function of Srimantapur Land Custom Station in Sonamura subdivision. The Land Custom Station has been set up with a cost of Rs. 16 crore, provided by the central government.
