E-tendering policy: Talks fail, sarpanchs to continue protest

“No consensus has been reached. Since we were busy in our meetings here, we have deferred our call to gherao the chief minister’s residence in Karnal on Saturday. We will gherao the Vidhan Sabha on March 17. Our agitation will continue,” Haryana Sarpanchs Association president Ranbir Samain said, adding, “We are asking for our rights. Gram Panchayats should be given independent powers.”

The sarpanchs have been protesting the e-tendering system for development works in rural areas, claiming it would curtail their spending powers. The state government has maintained that the e-tendering system would bring transparency, ensure quality in development works and ensure their completion in a time-bound manner.

Samain added, “We suggested implementing both systems at the same time. Some works should be undertaken through the previous system of panchayats while others could be executed through the new system of e-tendering. The outcome should be compared after six months. If even after that, the government finds the e-tendering system better, then we would be happy to stand by the government. But the government did not agree to our proposal of an experiment for six months. We feel that the government is eying the budget of village panchayats and that is why attempts are being made to encourage such a system.”

Meanwhile, on his part, the CM held long deliberations with sarpanchs on Thursday. Khattar had said, “They (sarpanchs) put 15-16 demands. Detailed deliberations took place on these demands. Consensus has developed on a lot of issues.”

However, the Sarpanch Association had categorically said that no consensus had been reached between both parties even as the CM termed the talks as satisfactory. Among other demands put forth by the association, the sarpanchs said the right to recall law should be implemented first on MLAs and MPs, and then on local bodies.

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