Hans News Service Hyderabad

TheTelangana Assembly on Thursday amended the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 allowing the gram panchayats in the state to have separate bank accounts so that they can utilise the funds whenever they are needed.Under sub-section (3) of section 70 of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 (Telangana Act No. 5 of 2018), all moneys received by the gram panchayat are required to be lodged in the nearest government treasury. The proviso to that sub-section permits amounts received under central or state government schemes to be lodged in nearby nationalised banks, co-operative banks or post offices in such manner as may be prescribed.

The government had received representations seeking permission to deposit the gram panchayat general fund in nearby nationalised banks, co-operative banks or post offices, in addition to amounts received under centrally- or state-sponsored schemes.

Panchayat Raj Minister Dhanasri Anasuya (Seethakka) said that it had been brought to their notice that delays in processing payments through the treasury system impede timely payment of salaries to gram panchayat staff and the timely discharge of other obligations. She said that while the Municipalities Act prescribes separate schedule commercial bank, there is no such provision in the Panchayat Raj.

The Minister said that it was decided to substitute sub-section (3) of section 70 of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 so as to provide that all moneys and funds received by a gram panchayat, including amounts received under the schemes of the central government or the state government from time to time, should be deposited in a nearby nationalised bank, co-operative bank or post office in such manner as may be prescribed. Continued on Page 7