Nitish Kumar against rights to mukhiyas, says Jairam Ramesh

DALTONGANJ: The Union rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh on Monday created a flutter when at a programme of the Mukhiya Sangh of Palamu district, about handing over of rights to mukhiyas under panchayati raj, he said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has asked him to be discreet in giving rights to the mukhiyas. The Union minister said, "I asked Nitishji the reason for this to which he replied that the number of Bolero and Pajero (SUV) cars on streets has gone up and these luxury vehicles are all from MGNREGA (a centre-sponsored scheme) fund which the mukhiyas in Bihar are handling." While Ramesh cited Nitish as one who is not favourably disposed towards giving more rights and powers to the mukhiyas, he also assured the mukhiyas here that he will stand beside them through thick and thin. He reminded the mukhiyas about how the Congress is eager to see them execute their powers conferred upon them by the Constitution. The president of the Mukhiya Sangh of Palamu, Anuj Kumar Tripathy in his speech said mukhiyas in Jharkhand are held in utter contempt by the officials.He said the mukhiyas are living under liability of fund that they have spent on schemes of the government.He also informed the minister that Karketta panchayat sachivalaya in Palamu is non functional for six months as the mukhiya has no fund left with him to pay the rent of the building in which this sachivalaya was running prior to its shut down.The Daltonganj Congress MLA, KN Tripathy urged the mukhiyas to tender en masse resignations if the state government does not hand over to them rights/powers as envisaged in the constitution.Ramesh asked the women mukhiyas and sarpanches not to live by their pati's (husband) command as is the ritual in Bihar. "In that state there are MPs and SPs in every panchayat and I was shocked to know that MP stands for mukhiya pati and SP for sarpanch pati. This indicates how women empowerment has gone awry."Ramesh is on a four-day tour of the state to review the status of rural development schemes in the districts of Latehar, Palamu and Garhwa.