Mangaluru – The Karnataka State Federation of Gram Panchayat Representatives has accused the government of systematically eroding the powers of village councils, undermining the decentralisation principles of the Gram Swaraj system.
Federation president Deviprasad Shetty Belapu said gram panchayats have lost significant administrative authority in recent years, affecting citizens seeking building permits, site purchases, and essential documents such as Forms 9 and 11. He alleged that both the state and central governments show little interest in strengthening panchayati raj institutions, instead “snatching away the power of local governance from the people.”
Shetty warned of massive protests across Karnataka, claiming there is a “deliberate attempt to dismantle the GP system,” similar to how taluk and zilla panchayat structures have been weakened. According to him, even the right to issue door numbers in villages has been transferred to urban development authorities, stripping GPs of basic functions.
“This is not just about governance; people are losing their right to build homes with basic infrastructure,” Shetty said. He hinted that continued interference could eventually end gram panchayat elections altogether.
To counter the move, the federation plans to mobilise its members across four regions — Hyderabad Karnataka, North Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka, and Malnad — to mount a coordinated agitation. Shetty urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge, and local authority MLCs Manjunath Bhandary and Kishore Kumar Puttur to address the issue urgently.