Empowerment of people Govt’s goal: Slathia

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15:- Asserting that the Collation Government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah was keen to empower and make the administration accountable and responsive to the people’s aspirations, the Minister for Industries and Commerce, S. S. Slathia today said that PSG and RTI Acts are landmark initiatives in this regard.
Addressing public meetings at Teli-Basti, Bari Brahmna, Buchri, Platian, and Dollian village in Vijaypur constituency, Mr. Slathia said history of the State is testimony to the fact that such serious and practical initiatives have never been taken before by any Government for de-centralization of power and ensuring practical involvement of common masses in plan formulations at gross roots level.
He said each Panchayat of the State has been authorized by the Government to formulate its budget proposal up to a minimum of Rs. 1 crore from this year, adding that adequate allocations have been earmarked under MGNREGA for this purpose.
” Panchs and Sarpanchs now have to formulate development plan of their respective areas as per the basic requirement and needs without any interference”, said Mr. Slathia, adding that onus lies on the Panchayat bodies to serve the people to come up to their expectations. He said PSG guarantees delivery of notified Public Services in a time bound manner, adding that fourteen services of six important department including Power, CA&PD, PHE, Education, Revenue have been brought under the purview of the Act. He said delivery of passports and character antecedent reports by police are also being brought under the PSG to redress people’s grievances in this regard.
Mr. Slathia said providing all the required basic services to the people is the main agenda of the coalition Government and sought people’s cooperation to supplement Government efforts in this regard.
The Minister also inaugurated newly constructed lanes and drains at a Teli-Basti completed at a cost of Rs. 70 lakh and assured the people that all possibilities would be explored to get this private housing colony regularized. He asked the Naib-Tehsildar and Patwari concerned to remain present in village Buchri twice a week to attend the problems of the people, adding that black topping of roads in the village will be taken up shortly. He further assured the people of the village to arrange availability of cooking gas on regular basis besides play fields.
Mr. Slathia announced a new 63 KVA power transformer for village Platian. He also visited and addressed public meeting at Dollian village in Vijaypur constituency and interacted with the people to redress their grievance.