Sarpanches stage dharna demanding funds release

The panchayat sarpanches staged a dharna in front of the Collector’s office here on Friday in protest against the diversion of panchayat funds and demanding restoration of their power.
As a precautionary measure, the police blocked the entry into the Collector’s office which led to tension for quite some time. The Sarpanches tried to barge into the Collector’s office which led to jostling between the police and the agitating sarpanches. The TDP and Jana Sena leaders along with their party workers rushed them to extend solidarity with the Sarpanches.
State Panchayat Raj Chamber President YVB Rajendra Prasad, General Secretary Birru Prathapa Reddy, and Sarpanches Sangham State President Vanapalli Lakshmi addressed the protesters and slammed the state government for the present situation leading to Sarpanches taking to the streets.
They alleged that the panchayat funds were diverted to other purposes by the state government including the crores of rupees released by the 14th and 15 Finance Commissions. They decried that the government had usurped the rights of Sarpanches through the village secretariat system. Later they called on the District Collector in a delegation and presented a representation listing out their charter of demands.
Panchayat Raj Chamber state vice president  Y Vinod Raju, Chittoor district unit president Chukka Dhanunjay Yadav, East Godavari Sarpanches Sangham President N Santhakumary, secretary  Rambhala Ramesh Kumar, Panchayat raj chamber state secretary Jalli Balaraju,  district leaders Prabhat, Nandamuri Raja, Chikkam Dorababu, Peddireddi Ramu were among those who took part in the dharna programme.