Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: Non Government Organisation (NGO), Universal Foundation, organised a Seminar today at the Conference Hall of Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust Jammu regarding the Devolution without Empowerment of Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
Member of J&K Legislative Council, Ravinder Sharma was the chief guest, while Narinder Singh Jamwal, former Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation and Prof Dipankar Sengupta were the guests of honour on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Ravinder Sharma threw light upon the history of local governance and referred back the traces to Rig Vedas, Ancient and Medieval period to British Raj.
He described Mahatama Gandhi’s concept of “Bottom to Top instead of top to Bottom” in devolution of powers and first step in this direction was taken in Annual Convention of Indian National Congress held in Lahore, 1924, wherein resolution was passed for social and financial empowerment at the grass root levels of the society.
Sarpanch Shafiq Mir, who is also the president of AJKPC (All Jammu & Kashmir Panchayat Conference) while speaking on the occasion described Panchayati Raj as an effective tool for empowering the political system instead of Panchs and Sarpanchs in their individual capacity. He slammed the State Government for not doing anything concrete to ensure the safety of village council members as the State Government is not sincere in providing security to Panchs and Sarpanchs as they don’t want to establish Panchayati Raj system in J&K.
Narinder Singh, former Mayor, Jammu Municipal Corporation in consonance with Shafiq Mir highlighted the plight of representative local bodies and exhorted them to exert their due power by exercising their rights instead of depending on Govt.
Dipankar Sengupta also spoke on the occasion, while Balbir Singh Manhas, a senior advocate from Jammu and Sant Kumar Sharma, senior Journalist also shared their views.
Dineshwar Singh Jamwal President of Universal Foundation, formally presented the welcome address.
The seminar concluded with interactive sessions, while Dineshwar Singh presented the vote of thanks.
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