After Panchayat election, Block Development Council poll in J&K soon

Srinagar: After successfully conducting Panchayat polls after more than three decades in the Jammu and Kashmir, now the Block Development Council (BDC) elections will be held in the state.

“The Government is committed to ensuring effective decentralisation of powers by way of setting up of the three-tier set up of local governance,” Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
He announced that the elections to the BDSs would held within the shortest possible time.
Addressing Panchs and Sarpanchs of south Kashmir districts of Kulgam and Anantnag yesterday, Mr Sagar asked officers of various departments concerned present to implement the order relating to the devolution of powers to the Panchs and Sarpanchs in letter and spirit and cautioned that any deviation on this account would be taken very seriously.
Action would be initiated against the officer who does not pay proper consideration to it, the minister warned.
Reiterating the government’s resolve for the proper decentralisation of the governance, Mr Sagar said “we do not believe in rhetoric but in sustained action and have always fulfilled promises and commitments made to the people of the state”.
He said “the holding of Panchayati elections and empowering them, we have ensured that the power percolates to the ground level and the people at grass root level have an effective say in governance and implementation of various welfare schemes”.
Asking Panchs and Sarpanchs not to pay heed to the misinformation campaign launched by certain elements, Mr Sagar said the order issued by the government with regard to the empowerment was comprehensive in nature and powers to monitor 14 pivotal departments have been given to them.
“We would also ensure that the report submitted by the committee, headed by the Chief Secretary would be implemented fully,” he maintained.
Referring to the capacity building of the Panchayati Raj institution, he said an amount of Rs 56 crore has already been released by the Government for construction and renovation of Panchayat Ghars across the state which would be constructed in consultation of the Panchayati Raj representatives.
A comprehensive training programme for educating the Panchs and Sarpanchs about the welfare schemes and their implementation would be started very soon and they would also be taken to different states where they can interact with their counter parts so that they can get first hand information about the Panchayati Raj set up, he added.
Mr Sagar said a proposal for remuneration to the Panchs and Sarpanchs has been mooted and a positive result was expected very soon.