Mysore/Mysuru: Seeking fulfilment of various demands, hundreds of Gram Panchayat (GP) members from across the State under the banner of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar District Unit of Karnataka State GP members Federation, staged a massive convention at Dasara Exhibition Grounds this morning.

The demands include a hike in honorarium being paid to GP Presidents, Vice-Presidents and members, issuance of a free bus pass, insurance coverage and pension benefits, treating GP as local self-government as envisaged in the Constitution, a hike in GP members’ area development funds and release of more grants to GPs, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Association President Satish Kadashettihalli said that this is the first such convention in the State. Noting that the convention is taking place in Mysuru, which was the then undivided home district of late Minister Abdul Nazir Sab who gave a new dimension to Panchayat Raj institutions, with decentralisation of power, he said that it is important to remember the contributions made by former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde and Abdul Nazir Sab.

Maintaining that the Gram Swaraj that was conceptualised by Mahatma Gandhi has failed, Satish said that it is imperative on the part of GP members to hold a united and organised struggle to revive the Gandhian concept for rural development and livelihood. Asserting that GP members are not slaves to anyone, he urged the Government to fulfil their demands and to accord them due consideration just like an MLA, as they are also elected representatives at the grass root level. 

MLCs Dr. D. Thimmaiah and C.N. Manjegowda, Association office-bearers N. Nagaraj, Brinda Krishnegowda, Chalapathy, Shashikala, Nishanth, Raja, Raghavendra, Baby Mahesh and others were present. Earlier, the GP members marched in a procession from Town Hall to Dasara Exhibition Grounds.