Kolkata: Bengal govt is likely to table proposed changes in the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973, in the assembly on Saturday. The proposed changes strip elected panchayat pradhans of their financial powers and vest them in govt officials, enabling the uninterrupted functioning of panchayats in the absence of elected office-bearers.The proposal states that in the absence of both the pradhan and upa-pradhan for more than 15 days, and if none of the elected members agrees to take charge, the authority can appoint an extension officer or an officer of a higher rank as the administrator for a maximum period of 30 days. During this period, the administrator will exercise all powers and perform all functions of the gram panchayat.“The executive assistant’s signature will become mandatory on all payment orders issued from the gram panchayat fund, while cheques will require the joint signatures of the executive assistant and the secretary of the respective gram panchayat,” a senior official said.The bill also proposes a mechanism to prevent prolonged disruption of panchayat meetings. If no meeting of a gram panchayat is held for two consecutive months due to the absence of the pradhan and upa-pradhan, the respective panchayat secretary, with the approval of the BDO, may convene the meeting. The extension officer and the executive assistant will attend such meetings as observers, it said.
