Govt ensured empowerment of Panchs/Sarpanches: Sagar

BARAMULLA: Reiterating the government’s commitment for the empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Minister for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that much head away has been made in ensuring the Panchs and Sarpanchs are empowered have been assigned the job to monitor the functioning of 14 departments, putting at rest the aspiration being spread by different vested interest.
The Minister was addressing a huge gathering of Panchs and Sarpanchs of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora at one day interaction programme with them here today.
District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, Mr. B.A. Bhat, Director Rural Development, Kashmir, Mr. Jehangir Mir, Additional District Development Commissioners, Bandipore and Kupwara, senior officers of Rural Development and district administration were present.
While taking a dig at the Parties which had launched a disinformation campaign about the panchayati elections, Mr. Sagar said that the government has fulfilled its commitment for empowering the Panchayati Raj representatives in the true sense and necessary instructions have been passed to the concerned officers to ensure that their participatory governance is ensured and their advice/directions followed “We will also ensure that the report submitted by the Committee headed by the Chief Secretary regarding the empowerment/devolution of the powers to the Panchs and Sarpanchs is implemented in letter and spirit”, he maintained.
Terming Panchayati Raj as an important tool in curbing corruption, the Minister said that by putting in place Panchayats, we would be getting the proper and requisite feedback about the status of implementation of various welfare programmes and schemes which would in turn away with the corrupt practices, if any. He said that credibility and transparency would also be ensured in such a manner.
Referring to the Government’s endeavour for capacity building of the Panchyats, Mr. Sagar said that we have already released Rs. 56 crore for building/renovation of Panchayat Ghars across the State and Panchs, Sarpanchs would also be imparted training about the implementation of Panchayati Raj system very shortly. He said that the funds earmarked for different schemes would also be given directly to the Panchayats for ensuring proper and systematic utilization of the same. “Various flagship schemes like MGNREGA, IAY, TSC and NRLM would be monitored and implemented by the Panchs, Sarpanches and necessary directions have already been issued in this regard”, he added.
The Minister said that we have also taken up the provision of providing honorarium to the Panchs/Sarpanchs, enhancement of wages from 125 to 180 under MGNREGA and also involving various handicraft trades under the scheme with the Centre and hope we would be getting a positive response shortly.