Chennai: Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, urging the government to further strengthen gram sabha meetings held across the state.
In his letter, Kamal sought an increase in the monthly honorarium for village panchayat representatives—raising it to Rs 16,000 for panchayat presidents, Rs 10,000 for vice-presidents and Rs 8,000 for ward members.
He also called for making gram sabha approval mandatory before opening new liquor outlets in villages. For outlets facing sustained public opposition, he asked that gram sabha resolutions to close them be given legal authority.
Kamal further suggested that well-conducted gram sabha meetings be live-streamed. He said gram sabhas should go beyond being venues to announce government schemes and instead enable residents to directly decide priorities such as drinking water, sanitation and roads, making local administration accountable.
He urged that the gram sabha meetings scheduled for October 2 be made stronger and more effective.
