Civic work may delay as panchayats stare at empty coffers

When the rural local body elections were held, and village panchayats got their presidents after a gap of three years, the residents hoped that civic works would pick pace.
But the villagers as well as panchayat presidents are disappointed as they are staring at near empty coffers in the local bodies. Even in panchayats that have funds, the panchayat presidents are stuck as they could not access the funds due to a new rule that all money transfers should be done through the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) system.
R Pandiammal, the panchayat president of the Siruvalai panchayat in Madurai district, is a AIADMK member. “I was told that the coffers of my panchayat were almost empty, when I assumed charge. To ensure that the people are not affected we carry out small works, like motor repairs and water supply from my own money. When the funds are accessible, we intend to bring about big changes in the panchayat,” she said.
Many of the elected panchayat presidents have been given bank passbooks with less than a lakh in the panchayat account. This is insufficient to carry out developmental work, they said.
First time president A Angusamy, of Chinnakannanur village panchayat in Manamadurai union in Sivaganga district says that there is about Rs 6 lakh in the panchayat account, according to the bank statement given to him. But he couldn’t utilize the funds so far due to the new rule mandating NEFT transactions. “As of now I’m spending from my own funds to fix lights and repair taps,’’ he said.
K Aruchamy of Kolapratti panchayat near Pollachi said that he wanted to construct a community hall at a cost of Rs 4 lakh for his village. “But there are no funds,’’ he said.
The newly elected panchayat presidents said that they are yet to work out the specifics on fund requirement. For now, they are studying the financial discipline of the village, revenue and expenditure over past few years, and the requirements of the village. “Once we prepare a list of requirements, we will arrive at an estimated budget for the projects and approach the government for the fund,’’ said P Ranganathan, president of Kalangal panchayat near Sulur in Coimbatore.
B Thangavel, president of Odanthurai panchayat in Coimbatore said he has approached Nilgiris DMK MP A Raja for funds. Odanthurai near Mettupalayam falls in Nilgiris Lok Sabha segment. “He has agreed to provide Rs 13 lakh for a construction of an intake well to augment drinking water supply to our village. I am also planning to request him for funds for building a subway at a railway crossing,’’ Thangavel said.
In Mukkudi panchayat in Thirupuvanam union in Sivaganga district the newly elected panchayat president P Muthiah has set right faulty streetlights with his own funds to the tune of Rs 1.75 lakh.
However, panchayat presidents are hopeful that soon the government would release funds. “For an efficient president, paucity of funds would not be a problem at all. There are multiple sources. We must work closely with MLAs, MPs, government officers as well as industrialists and charity organisations to raise funds for the sake of public welfare,’’ said Ranganathan.
A senior government officer said that funds would be released soon. “Funds are being released for ongoing schemes like MGNREGS. We will soon release funds for village specific projects,’’ he said.