Section 61A in The Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959
61A. [ Provisions for development of panchayats as growth centres. [Section 61A was inserted by Maharashtra 16 of 2012, Section 5 (w.e.f. 2-10-2012).]
(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, taking into consideration the population, income and potential of the panchayat and such other factors as may be prescribed, the State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that a panchayat or a group of panchayats may engage experts, technical support agencies and skilled manpower on contract or on consultancy basis for conceiving, preparing, executing, operating, managing, maintaining and supervising the panchayat Development Plan, Land Development Plan and Environmental Development Plan for planned growth of the panchayat as well as the Livelihood and Employment Development Plan, Physical and Social Infrastructure Development Plan and other related activities to develop such panchayats or group of panchayats as growth centres.(2)The experts, technical support agencies and skilled manpower engaged under sub-section (1) shall be from a panel prepared by the officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf, and the persons so engaged shall possess such qualifications and experience and shall be engaged on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.(3)The State Government may, direct such panchayats or group of panchayats to allocate such portion of funds from any scheme, project, programme or work sponsored by the State Government or the Central Government, as permissible, or from Village Development Fund or other own sources of the panchayats or group of panchayats which shall be utilised for engaging such persons.]
