CM announces monthly honorarium for unpaid Panchayat functionaries

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced monthly honorarium for the Panchayat functionaries across the state who were till now not paid for their services. In addition, a hike was announced for other Panchayat functionaries who have been receiving honorarium.

Speaking at the State Panchayat Conference, the Chief Minster said that the three-tier Panchayat system in Bengal, the functionaries and district administrations are pillars of her government.

"Every Panchayat functionaries should feel proud about themselves. They are doing their duties extremely well," Banerjee said.

"The people who work in Panchayat are poorly paid. Some of them are marginally paid. Many of them are doing their duties almost free of cost.

"But I was completely unaware of these facts. Nobody told me about these things," Banerjee said after inaugurating the State Panchayat Conference at Netaji Indoor Stadium.

"A doubt grew in my mind about the pay package of Panchayat functionaries across the state. Later, I learnt that their pay package is extremely poor. But they have achieved good performance," the Chief Minister added.

She announced a revised pay package for Panchayat functionaries from March 1, saying: "If there is no vision, how will the mission be successful? The Bengal government has a vision. We are approaching towards our target."

Banerjee instructed state Finance minister Amit Mitra to commence the disbursement of the honorariums from March 1. She announced that every member of Gram Sabha will get Rs 1,500 per month as honorarium. They had previously not been paid a single rupee for their work.

She also announced a hike in honorarium of Zilla Sabhadhipatis, who used to get Rs 3,500 per month and will now they will get Rs 5,000 from the first day of March. The Saha-Sabhadhipatis, who used to get Rs 3,200 per month, will be given Rs 4,000.

There are several karmadhyakhyas who look after different departments of the Zilla Parishad. They used to get Rs 3,000 as honorarium, but will now get Rs 4,000 per month.

Each member of the Zilla Parishad board will now get Rs 1,500 per month as monthly honorarium. Before this, their services were not paid for by the state government. The chairman of the Zilla Parishad used to get Rs 3,000 per month but will now get Rs 4,000. The vice-chairman of the Zilla Parishad used to get no honorarium, but will now get Rs 2,000 per month.

In the Panchayat Samiti, Sabhadhipatis will now get Rs 3,500 per month. They earlier used to be paid Rs 2,800 per month. The Saha-Sabhadhipatis of Panchayat Samiti will get Rs 3,000 per month, instead of Rs 2,500. Each karmadhyakhya of the Panchayat Samiti will get Rs 3,000 per month, in place of the previous honorarium of Rs 2,000 per month.

The Gram Panchayat Pradhan, who used to get Rs 2,000 per month, will now get Rs 3,000 instead. The Upa-gram Panchayat Pradhan will have Rs 2,000 per month, in place Rs 1,500 per month.

"My government will give you health protection. All the functionaries are entitled to get service from the state government's Swasthya Sathi scheme. Remember one thing: you have to work for teh common people. You should look after the health of common people. My government will look after your health," Banerjee said.