CPI oppose Tamil Nadu Government’s move of merging of village panchayats with municipalities
The Hindu
CPI opposes Tamil Nadu government's plan to merge village panchayats with municipalities, citing negative impact on residents.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has opposed the recent move by the Tamil Nadu Government to merge village panchayats with municipalities and has called for the proposal to be withdrawn.
The party’s Erode North District Committee meeting was held in Gobichettipalayam on Sunday (January 5, 2025) that was chaired by district treasurer P.N. Rajendran. Former Bhavanisagar MLA P.L. Sundaram, district secretary S. Mohan and functionaries from Bargur, Anthiyur, Bhavani Town, Bhavani Union, Gobichettipalayam, Nambiyur, Sathyamangalam, Bhavanisagar, Talavadi and Punjai Puliyampatti Town took part. Various resolutions were passed during the meeting.
One resolution noted that the government had issued notifications on December 31, 2024, proposing the merger of Padavalkalvai village panchayat in Ammapettai union with Ammapettai town panchayat, Akkaraikodiveri village panchayat in T.N. Palayam union with Periyakodiveri town panchayat and Kavundapadi panchayat to be merged with the town panchayats of Salangapalayam and P. Mettupalayam to form the Kavundapadi municipality. Additionally, Vellalapalayam, Modachur, Kullampalayam and Pariyur village panchayats were proposed to be merged with Gobichettipalayam municipality and Nochikuttai and Nallur panchayats to be merged with Punjai Puliyampatti municipality.
The resolution said the government orders contradicts the welfare and preferences of residents in these village panchayats, whose livelihoods depend primarily on agriculture. “Bringing these village panchayats under the Urban Local Bodies Act will result in the loss of various government welfare benefits currently enjoyed by residents,” the resolution highlighted.
It further pointed out that post-merger, residents would face an increased tax burden. “About 10,000 families in these 10 village panchayats depend on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for their livelihood. They would lose their employment opportunities and be pushed into poverty,” the resolution warned.
The party urged the government to revoke the proposal to include village panchayats under the act. “Artificial urbanisation of village panchayats should be stopped,” the resolution emphasised.