‘Under PM, PR System working very well in UT’
PRIs will be made powerful, efficient, effective
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 24: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said today that they all want Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir to be held on time even as he maintained that three-tier Panchayati Raj System is working very well in the Union Territory under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a very brief chat with media persons after participation in celebrations of National Panchayati Raj Day at Palli in Samba, Sinha while responding to a question on conduct of Panchayat elections said their term is ending after some time.
“I asked the Panchayat members to do people’s works timely,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said they all want that Panchayat elections are held on time.
Panchayats will be completing their five-year term in November-December this year and elections to them will have to be conducted in October-November.
Polls to Panchayats were held in November-December 2018 after nearly four decades in Jammu and Kashmir during President’s Rule after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP Government in the erstwhile State.
Along with Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies elections were also held in October-November 2018 after a gap of 13 years and these bodies will also complete their term few days ahead of the Rural Bodies.
Besides Panchayats and Municipalities, Lok Sabha polls are also scheduled to be held in April-May next year.
Sinha said the economy of Jammu and Kashmir will get boost with conduct of Kissan Sammelan by the UT Government in Panchayats.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Panchayati Raj System has been working very well in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Asserting that collective efforts of the common man and Panchayats are playing an important role in realising big dreams of small villages of the Union Territory, the Lieutenant Governor said: “By establishing and strengthening three-tier grassroots democracy in J-K, PM Modi has ensured rapid and inclusive development.
“It is our firm resolve to make PRIs more powerful, efficient and effective,” he said.
Palli Panchayat in Samba district where Panchayati Raj Day was observed is a nondescript hamlet in the border district which on April 24 last year became the country’s first ‘carbon-neutral Panchayat’ with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation a 500-kilowatt solar plant.
The Lt Governor also conferred UT-level Panchayat awards to the awardees, launched ‘Mera Samba’ Swachhta App for community participation and inaugurated 18 ‘Smartpurs’ for Samba and six for Anantnag on the occasion.
He urged all public representatives to give priority to the underprivileged to realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of ‘Poorna Swaraj’ through Gram Swaraj.
“Our efforts should also focus on removing developmental imbalances,” he added.
Sinha said, “Rural growth is the main pillar of the country’s development and to achieve our objectives, Gram Panchayats will have to play a major role in economic empowerment of all citizens, ensuring that benefits reach the last mile and active participation in grassroots planning and execution.”
As powerful agents of socio-economic change and engines of rural development, he said, the Panchayats are making a significant contribution to nation-building and empowering people to meet the challenge of sustainable development.
The Lt Governor said the historic visit of PM Narendra Modi to Palli laid the foundation for making Panchayats in the UT strong & Atmanirbhar. I am proud that Palli is shining in various sectors and it has emerged as a model of rural development, Sinha said.
He highlighted the major steps taken to strengthen grassroots democracy in Jammu Kashmir.
“Devolution of Funds, Functions & Functionaries and seamless coordination at each of the levels of three-tier system of Panchayati Raj has given tremendous boost to aspirations of rural society,” he added.
The Lt Governor also spoke on progressive policies and schemes aimed at increasing farmers’ income, enhance their skills and directly connect them with various Centrally Sponsored and UT’s schemes.
He called upon the elected representatives to complement Government’s efforts in implementation of the groundbreaking 29 projects worth Rs. 5013 crore for the holistic development of agriculture & allied sectors.
I am confident that the success of this Holistic Agriculture Development Plan will guide the prosperous future of Jammu Kashmir and help in doubling the contribution of agriculture sector in J&K’s GDP in the next 5 years,” he said.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member Parliament; Keshav Dutt Sharma, DDC Chairperson Samba; DDC Chairpersons; Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Administrative Secretaries; PRI members, senior officials and a large number of people were present.
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