Mon Jan 27 17:24:57 IST 2025: ## Coimbatore Villagers Protest Proposed Merger with Corporation
**COIMBATORE, January 27, 2025** – Residents of Neelambur and Somayampalayam villages in Coimbatore have vehemently opposed a government proposal to merge their panchayats with the Coimbatore Corporation. In a joint demonstration on Monday, villagers submitted petitions to the District Collector, expressing concerns over the potential loss of vital rural development funds and benefits.
The villagers, primarily farmers from low-income backgrounds, fear that the merger will eliminate their access to crucial Panchayati Raj scheme funding, vital for local infrastructure projects. They also anticipate a significant increase in property taxes and the loss of benefits under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
The opposition to the merger has been formalized through resolutions passed in recent grama sabha meetings in both villages. These resolutions, along with the petitions, highlight the dependence of the villages’ populations on agricultural livelihoods and the crucial role of rural development schemes in supporting their economic well-being. The villagers are urging authorities to reconsider the proposed merger.
First Piper 