Rural development and water resources minister N Anand on Wednesday chaired a review meeting with officials at the Perambalur district collectorate to assess the progress of key irrigation and rural development projects across the region.
Palanithurai will provide advice to minister N Anand on strengthening local bodies and improve the functioning of elected representatives, said Prashant M Wadnere, secretary of rural development and panchayat raj department in an order dated Aug 2.
He will help authorities develop sustainable plans for village panchayats, said officials. Palanithurai, regarded as an expert on panchayat raj, has been stressing the need to strengthen the local governance mechanism. Palanithurai will extend his expertise in aiding SIRD to improve its policies and delivery system to augment the village panchayats’ own revenue resources, evolve infrastructure and improve delivery of local bodies’ services to the people.