Omar ascertains status of devolution of powers to panchayats

JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has directed the District Development Commissioners to monitor and ascertain the status of devolution of powers to the Panchayats and put up the detailed report in this regard in the upcoming District Development Board meetings.
Taking stock of the implementation of the order regarding transfer of powers to panchayats issued by the Government, at a high level meeting here today, the Chief Minister told the concerned Administrative Secretaries to sensitize their offices at down below to involve panchayats in the formulation of next year’s Annual Plan.
“A strategy is required to be adopted right from now to incorporate panchayat members in the plan formulation so that funds are earmarked accordingly for works at panchayat, block and district levels”, he said adding that monitoring of implementation of power transfer orders at ground level is necessary to ensure functioning of panchayats effectively.
It may be mentioned that a high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary has identified the transfer of services from 14 departments to panchayats which have been approved by the Cabinet and a Government order in this regards stands already issued transferring the powers of these services to the panchayats.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for School Education, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister for PHE, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, Minister of State for Rural Development, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary R&B, K. B. Agarwal, Administrative Secretaries of concerned departments and Heads of the Departments.
Omar Abdullah stressed on capacity building of sarpanches and panches and said that NGOs and Universities should be involved in this programme. He also emphasized the need for conducting status analyses of transfer of powers and functioning of the panchayats in the State by National Rural Development Institute (NRDI).
The Chief Minister received appraisal of the transfer of powers from all the 14 departments service-wise. The Ministers presented resume of the measures taken by the departments under their control to ensure implementation of the orders pertaining to the transfer of powers to the panchayats at the ground level.
Speaking in the meeting, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that the holding of elections to panchayats in the State after a period of over 30 years was a historic decision of Omar-led Government. He said transfer of powers to these democratically elected institutions was yet another significant decision of the Government.
Sagar underlined the need for ensuring that the orders of devolution of powers to panchayats are implemented at ground in letter and spirit. He said unified efforts by all are required to establish a powerful and viable panchayat system in the State.
Sagar expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for taking keen interest in the establishment of Panchayat Raj in the State and empowerment of people at the ground level.