Veteran academician and expert in panchayat raj G. Palanithurai has been appointed adviser to Rural Development-Panchayat Raj and Water Resources Minister N. Anand. 

Apart from providing “professional advice” to the Minister in matters concerning panchayat raj and rural development, he will guide the government with regard to capacity building in village panchayats.

Prof. Palanithurai, formerly with the Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul, has been attached to the State Institute of Rural Development for administrative reasons.

He will draw an honorarium of ₹1 lakh per month, according to a government order issued early this month.