Sarpanches demand Rs 15,000 honorarium

PNS|Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh Sarpanches Association treasurer Vari Sri Devi has urged the State government to give Rs.15,000 as monthly honorarium to all sarpanches in the State. Also, electricity charges of minor gram panchayats and tribal gram panchayats should be borne by the State government, she said.

The general body meeting of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh Sarpanches Association was held in Vijayawada on Friday. The new State committee was elected. Vari Sri Devi was unanimously elected the State treasurer.

Vijayawada Rural ZPTC member K Suvarna Raju, Ramavarappadu Upa Sarpanch V Punyavathi and several people’s representatives and YSRCP leaders felicitated Vari Sri Devi at the Ramavarappadu gram panchayat office. Addressing the media at her office at Ramavarappadu, she said that the State committee passed several resolutions regarding sarpanches and gram panchayats.

Gram sarpanches receive Rs. 3,000 as honorarium per month now. A pay raise was given seven years ago. The amount is insufficient for the sarpanches who are supposed to attend various meetings and visit mandal and district-level officers. They spend their own money as the present honorarium is not enough, she added.

She further said that the State committee passed another resolution that Gram Sachivalayam staff should work under sarpanches. Also, the committee discussed the diversion of 14th and 15th Finance Commission funds. Without consulting panchayats, the State government should not divert these funds, she said. The newly elected committee has decided to meet Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy after obtaining an appointment.

Further, she said the State government should provide an insurance of about Rs. 20 lakh, in case any sarpanch died and the family claimed the insurance amount. “We will make this proposal to the State government and the same will be told to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Also, various issues relating to the major, minor and tribal gram panchayats will be discussed,” she added.

She added that the State committee would tour all 26 districts and constitute district committees within months. After forming the district committees, a full-fledged State committee will be formed, she explained.

Ramavarappadu Venkamma Perantalamma temple committee chairman Boyina Bhanu Pradeep, former sarpanch V Siva Satyanarayana, YSRCP convener Sammeta Sambasiva Rao, Panchayat Secretary G Rama Mohana Rao and others were present.