After AP, now Tamil Nadu to set up 600 village secretariats; CM Stalin announces in Assembly

Emulating the state of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday made a statement in the state Assembly that his government will set up 600 village secretariats across the state in this year. For implementation of various social welfare schemes in villages effectively, the YSRCP government in AP launched the village secretariat system in 2019.
 
The CM mentioned that Gram Sabhas were held four times in a year when her father M. Karunanidhi was chief minister. “Later, the AIADMK government scrapped Grama Sabhas,” he faulted. Stalin has increased number of Grama Sabha sittings from four to six in a year. Earlier, Grama Sabhas were held on Republic Day, May Day, Independence Day and on Gandhi Jayanthi. From now on, the meetings would be conducted on World Water Day and on Local Governance Day too, he stated. 
 
Stalin further said that ‘Uthamar Gandhi Award’ will be awarded to best performing village panchayats. “One selected village from each district will be given a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh,” he stated.