Chennai: Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) president and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, proposing an eight-point roadmap to strengthen the upcoming October 2 Gram Sabha meetings. Emphasising Mahatma Gandhi's vision of Gram Swaraj (village self-governance), the veteran actor-politician urged the state government to transform local village councils into decisive, empowered institutions of grassroots democracy.

In his communication addressed to the Chief Minister, Haasan highlighted key structural reforms aimed at elevating local governance, improving public participation, and fostering transparency across rural local bodies.
 

 

Eight core recommendations for empowered local governance

Haasan’s proposal outlines actionable administrative and policy interventions aimed at decentralising power ahead of Gandhi Jayanti.

  • Honorarium hike: Increase the financial honorarium provided to Village Panchayat representatives to ensure financial dignity and sustained dedication.
  • Decisive say on TASMAC: Empower Gram Sabhas with binding decision-making authority over the location, operation, and opening of state-run TASMAC liquor outlets within their jurisdictions.
  • Public participation and awareness: Conduct state-wide awareness drives to boost citizen turnout, particularly encouraging women and youth to attend local assembly meetings.
  • Time-bound action on resolutions: Establish a strict, enforceable timeframe for district authorities to act on and resolve decisions passed by Gram Sabhas.
  • Citizen-led agenda formulation: Allow local communities to directly influence and submit items for the official Gram Sabha agenda prior to scheduled meetings.
  • Research and capacity-building: Invest in structured training, research initiatives, and leadership development programs for elected local representatives.
  • Participatory village planning: Transition village development initiatives into genuinely community-driven processes rather than top-down administrative decisions.
  • Grassroots accountability: Institutionalise social audits and robust tracking mechanisms to hold local bodies accountable for public spending and welfare delivery.

‘Model state for village governance’

Championing a bottom-up model of administration, Haasan noted that true decentralisation remains the benchmark of an effective democracy. He asserted that honouring Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy requires building vibrant, self-reliant village assemblies capable of steering their own development agenda.

“Gandhiji’s vision of Gram Swaraj was rooted in empowered villages and participatory democracy,” Haasan stated, advocating for Tamil Nadu to set a national benchmark as a model state for local governance under the new administration.