Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Committee Members’ Association will hold a demonstration and grand assembly at Lower PMG on the 10th of this month. The gathering aims to demand permanent membership and authority for committee members in Gram Panchayats, as well as defined powers in Panchayat Committees. Reports indicate that the committee members will present six key demands to the state government during the event.
The Odisha State Committee Members’ Association, expressing their dissatisfaction, has stated that either they should be given appropriate powers or their positions should be abolished altogether. They demand that committee members should not be treated as mere guests in Gram Panchayat meetings but rather be given permanent membership. They are also seeking office facilities in Panchayat offices, 50% participation rights in Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP), joint signature authority in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and mandatory signatures of committee members on all official certificates.
Additionally, the association is demanding a monthly allowance increase to ₹20,000, a post-retirement pension of ₹10,000, life insurance, and health insurance coverage for both active and retired members. They have urged the state government to address these demands promptly.