Govt to hike pay of all Panchayat functionaries

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to increase the remuneration of all 60,000 elected functionaries in the three-tier Panchayat bodies in the state.

The increase will be effective for Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti

and Gram Panchayat functionaries, right from Sabhadhipati/Sabhapati/Pradhan to the general member level.

"The functionaries at all the three levels of the three-tier Panchayat have to devote their time and energy in implementing various government and welfare programmes of the state government at the grassroot level. They did not receive any remuneration for their work from the Central government. Our government, in recognition of their work in 2017, decided to grant them a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 1,500 per month for functionaries at all levels. We have now decided to further increase their remuneration in recognition of their commendable work at the grassroot level," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said after a meeting with Zilla Parishad (ZP) members at Nabanna Sabhaghar on Monday.

Banerjee has directed all ZP members to devote two hours time once in a week and listen to the grievances of people. "The members have been asked to maintain coordination at all levels of the three-tier Panchayat system and work properly for rendering services to the common people," she added.

The remuneration of all Gram Panchayat (GP) members has been hiked from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000, while all Panchayat Samiti (PS) members will be getting a monthly remuneration of Rs 3,500, up from Rs 1,500. Meanwhile, the ZP members will get Rs 5,000 per month, instead of their present remuneration of Rs 1,500.

The Sabhadhipatis of ZPs will get a remuneration of Rs 9,000, up from Rs 6,000 a month, while the Sabhapatis of Panchayat Samitis

will get Rs 6,000 instead of Rs 3,400. The Gram Panchayat Pradhans will get Rs 5,000 up from Rs 3,000 a month.

The total number of general members in Zilla Parishads is 825, with 9,217 in Panchayat Samitis and 48,649 in Gram Panchayats.

"The state government will have to spend around Rs 225 crore for coughing up this extra remuneration," said Banerjee.