By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 25, 2016 : The Odisha Coalition of Panchayati Raj (OCPR), an alliance of voluntary organisations, intellectuals and PRI representatives, on Sunday urged the State Government to restructure panchayats by making every village a panchayat.

Observing the National Panchayati Raj Day here, the participants demanded constitution of e- Panchayat in every Village before the upcoming Panchayat election early next year, adopt forest Rights Act [FRA] Gram Sabha replacing existing Palli Sabha changing the quorum of the Palli Sabha(Gram Sabha) from 1/10th to at least ½ vesting the authority of decision making power upon the community people, reorganisation of the Panchayat Samities so that on an average each Panchayat Samiti will cater to the needs of 40 slammer Gram Panchayats and revival of Panchayat Industries etc.

Around 80 persons joined the programme.

Speakers emphasised on devolution of financial power to the grassroots authorities.

Among others former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo, CYSD chairman PK Sahoo, Planning and Coordination Department Additional Secretary Pradip Biswal, former Panchayati Raj Secretary Swapneswar Baya, PECUC secretary Ranjan Mohanty, ONAS president Prof Jantrana Parikhit, Researcher Rajashree Mishra and social activist Gadadhar Pradhan were present.