Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 12: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pardeep Gupta, today said that the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir are all set to emerge as effective local self Governments with a well defined role to perform.
The Divisional Commissioner was speaking at the concluding day of two day interaction-cum-awareness camp for Sarpanchs and Panchs of Udhampur district.
Mr. Gupta said that with devolution of well defined powers, the Panchayati Raj Institutions can formulate development plans and supervise the implementation of development schemes at Panchayat Halqa, Block and District levels, besides act as supervisory bodies to monitor the functioning of various departments.
He said that the Panchayats have already been given the powers to supervise the functioning of 14 departments at halqa level which has greatly helped in enforcing accountability among the Government functionaries.
Stressing the need to create awareness about the Centrally and State sponsored schemes meant for the socio economic transformation of the downtrodden and poor, Mr. Gupta said Sarpanchs and Panchs could play a vital role in realizing the desired results.
He further said that to make the Panchayats more vibrant and have a say in the decision making at State level, the Panchayats have been granted the right to elect two MLCs each from Jammu and Srinagar.
The District Development Commissioner Udhampur Yasha Mudgal, in her welcome address, gave a detailed resume of the steps taken by the district administration to facilitate the PRIs in exercising their powers viz-a-viz 14 departments. She hoped that the Panchayat representatives would act as a bridge between the administration and public to ensure effective implementation of the flagship schemes at gross root level.
Among others, Senior Superintendent of Police, Anil Mangotra, Joint Director Planning, Rakesh Jamwal, Assistant Commissioner, Development, Pawan K. Parihar, Project Officer IWMP and incharge District Panchayat Officer, Angrez Singh, Executive Engineer, Rural Engineer Wing, K.K. Gorka, senior officers of the district, block Level officers of various departments were also present on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel