Kolkata, July 04: The ruling Left Front in West Bengal today decided to bring a bill to amend the Panchayat Act during the current session of the assembly to make the panchayat system more people-oriented and boost development in rural Bengal. Briefing newsmen after the front's meeting, which discussed the matter at length, CPI(M) state secretary Anil Biswas said panchayat minister Suryakanta Mishra has submitted a note to the LF on the proposed bill.
All front partners including the Forward Bloc, RSP and CPI have been asked to submit their views on Mishra's note by July 7. The bill would be placed in the house by the government after incorporating the suggestions of front allies, Biswas said.

Elaborating on the provisions in the proposed bill, Biswas said that a statutory body under the gram samsad would be constituted comprising nominated members to assist it in development work.

The statutory body would also have several sub-committees to look into the development aspects in specific areas. Biswas said that such statutory bodies already existed under zilla parishada and panchayat samity adding that this would not be a parallel to the gram samsad.

Bureau Report