Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 9: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar, today said that Government will make necessary amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act and made it clear that Government will not surrender before the forces that are targeting Panchayat members and will fight them out.
While replying to the discussion on the recent killing of Sarpanchs and Panchs and empowerment of the Panchayats in the State, the Minister said that Government is ready to incorporate the provisions of the 73rd Amendment of the Indian constitution to the State Panchayat Raj Act. He said that the Government is not rigid and will accept changes in the State act for the empowerment of the Panchayats in the State.
Sagar said that some forces don’t want the democracy to flourish at the grass root level in the State and it is they who have attacked and killed Panchayat members.
The Minister said that several ministers, MLAs, MLC, district president and political workers of various political parties were killed. They have been using guns and grenade and how will they want this grass root level democratic institution to succeed. However, he said that the Government has decided not to surrender before them.
Sagar told the House that Government will fight these forces out and it will be the victory of the democracy.
On the security of the Panchayat members, the Minister ruled out individual security. He, however, said that the security grid will be strengthened to make them feel safe. He said Unified Headquarter meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has decided to sensitize all the vulnerable areas in the State.
Sagar in his reply described the holding of Panchayat elections in the State after 3 decades to establish Panchayat Raj Institution (PRI) as a land mark achievement of the preset Government. He sought cooperation of the members of House to take the process to its logical conclusion.
The Minister said holding of Panchayat elections was a collective decision of all parties to make people partners of development in rural areas and nobody will be allowed to derail the process. He said establishment of Panchayat Raj institution in the State has the sole objective of development of villages and it should not be linked with politics or Kashmir issue.
Sagar said that nobody from ruling National Conference or Congress has linked the holding of successful Panchayat elections with the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir issue is an accepted reality which needs political solution and Panchayat elections had nothing do with it.
The Minister said that no one should try to take political benefit out of the issue of Panchayats adding that it will only vitiate the situation. Without naming the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sagar charged it of politicizing the Panchayats.
He said Government is open to consider suggestions for strengthening of Panchayats. He said Government is ready to incorporate all such good provisions of the 73rd Amendments in the State Act which will help to further strengthening of Panchayats.
The Minister told the House that Centre has approved Rs 600 crore in 13th Finance Commission for the State for Panchayats. He said Rs 166 crore has been released to Panchayats and Rs 2.30 crore earmarked as Budget Supplement for Panchayats in the current year’s annual plan. He said an effective mechanism has been put in place to monitor functioning of Panchayats through village secretaries adding that an intensive awareness campaign has been launched at block levels to educate Panchs and Sarpanchs about the functioning of Panchayats and their powers.
Sagar said 14 vital departments have been identified functioning of which will be supervised by the Panchayat members. He said provision of honorarium to Panchayat members is also under active consideration of the Government. He informed the House that about 34000 Panchs and Sarpanchs have been elected in the State by the rural populace as their public representatives with the expectation that their grievances will be redressed adequately.
Earlier while speaking on the discussion, MLA Nazir Gurezi said that Panchayat members were killed because the issue was politicized. He said that the issue was even taken to New Delhi. He said that some people link killing of the Panchayat members with the empowerment of the institution. He questioned the linkage between empowerment and security threat. “What is the guarantee that if Panchayats are empowered, the militants may not target them?” he asked. He also said that it is the duty of the Speaker to define the powers of the legislators.
Congress MLA Abdul Majid Wani spoke for empowerment of Panchayats and necessary amendments for the strengthening of the grass root level democratic institution.
Congress MLA Vikar Rasool also supported the implementation of the 73rd Amendment and said that with the elections to the Panchayats lot of funds that were not being utilized in the rural areas are being utilized now.
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