Legal awareness workshop organized for new GP members

Legal awareness workshop organized for new GP members

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, November 11: The Dakshina Kannada Legal Services and Zilla Panchayat jointly organized a one-day workshop on legal awareness for its elected Gram Panchayat (GP) members at Town Hall on Nov 13, Saturday. Justice H. N. Nagamohan Das, high court judge, inaugurated the workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

In his inaugural speech, the justice said that workshops for newly elected GP members were conducted in various regions except in Mangalore and that the present workshop could be organized because of the efforts of Justice Manjula.

Speaking about India’s post-Independence problems, he said that, in spite of differences of opinion, India became the world’s biggest and best constitution because everybody wanted a free nation. Lamenting that, in spite of 80,000 elected GP members all over India, the problems of farmers in all villages remain unsolved he said that educated people are spending a lot of money on celebrating festivals while farmers commit suicide because poverty does not allow them to purchase essential commodities. Although the government has provided basic facilities to all people, problems persist, he said and listed various challenges facing the nation such as crime, terrorism, financial recession, communalism, and so on.

Urging for transparency in the words and actions of elected GP members, he said that GP members must be simple and have the required legal knowledge to solve various issues.

G. S. Narayanaswamy, the secretary of rural development and Panchayatraj Department, released a book titled “Grama Rajya: Concept of Mahatma Gandhi” written by Justice H. N. Nagamohan Das.

He informed the audience that the government used to give grants directly to the GPs, but now they are being transferred online. Speaking about how Minister Shobha Karandlaje has successfully created job opportunities at GP levels, he said that the PDO post will be filled in March. Out of a total of 3,750 posts, only 2,500 are appointed while the other 1,200 are vacant, he said. About 2,500 laptops have also been provided, he added. A website known as panchatantra provides details of all GP activities and more details will be uploaded soon, he informed.

Dr. H. N. Krishna, the state information commissioner; Subodh Yadav, the deputy commission of DK; Dr. K. Vijayaprakash, the commissioner; S. P. Chegappa, the president of Mangalore Bar Association; and M. S. Kotian, the president of the Moodubidri Bar Association, were the chief guests.

K. Santhosh Kumar Bhandary, the president of Zilla Panchayat, presided over the function; and Shivashankar, the CEO of ZP, proposed the vote of thanks.