Move to merge local bodies sparks job, governance fears

Govt planning to merge, upgrade village panchayats in 28 districts

- T MURUGANANDHAM @Chennai

THE state's move to merge and upgrade several village panchayats in 28 districts, where elections for rural local bodies are pending, with the adjoining urban local bodies has drawn criticism from organisations working for local self-governments.

Their key contentions include loss of jobs under MNREGA scheme in panchayats, trouble in reaching heads of civic bodies, and hardship in getting government services. They also pointed out that the five notifications issued on Wednesday pertain only to the local bodies in the 28 districts where elections are pending.

Nandakumar Siva, vice president of Thannatchi, an NGO working for the rights of local bodies, told TNIE, "These notifications are against democracy. The government is trying to complete the merger of local bodies through shortcuts. This will affect the possibility of women and members of SC/ST communities getting elected as people's representatives. It is against social justice."