NEW DELHI, Feb 11:
In the backdrop of recent killings of Panchs and Sarpanchs by militants in the State, Jammu and Kashmir Government has sought special financial package from the Centre to build confidence of the people leading the local bodies in the State.
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who received a representation from the state Government in this regard, has brought it to the “personal attention” of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
In a letter to Ramesh, State Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar has asked the Centre to allocate Rs 75 crore per year for paying remuneration to panchs and sarpanchs.
In his letter, Sagar said that there was “lot of resentment” among the sarpanchs and panchs on account of non-payment of remuneration and the State requires about Rs 75 crore anually to meet this demand.
“This will go a long way in building confidence of the parople in these grass roots level institutions,” he said.
Ramesh has informed the Prime Minister that he has received representations that have also been handed over to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
“Actually this matter relates more to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj than to the Ministry of Rural Development but a larger decision has to be taken by you and Finance Minister considering the special circumstances that prevail in Jammu and Kashmir,” Ramesh said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
Recently, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also met the Prime Minister and sought assistance in providing security and honorarium to newly elected panches and sarpanches.
The Chief Minister had discussed issues relating to strengthening of panchayat institutions and sought liberal central funding for devolution of resources to panchayats including payment of honorarium to nearly 33,000 Panchs and Sarpanchs. (PTI)
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