Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: A five-member delegation of Kashmir unit of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) on Wednesday met the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan and submitted 19-point charter of demands pertaining to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Led by UT president of AJKPC Anil Sharma, the delegation urged the Lieutenant Governor for early resolution of their issues including financial empowerment of Panchayats and adequate security to PRI members in vulnerable parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
In its 19-charter point demands, the AJKPC delegation also expressed its gratitude to the UT administration and the government of India for taking several measures to empower PRIs in J&K including for conducting peaceful DDC elections last years for the first time in last 70 years and sought further empowerment of the people at grassroots level.
“It is long pending demand of elected the PRI members of J&K that on the pattern of MPLAD Fund and MLA Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Panchayats may also be financially empowered and Panchayat Development Fund be constituted with annual earmarking of Rs 25 lakh for the development of Panchayat Halqa through Gram Sabha,” Sharma briefed mediapersons after submitting memorandum to the Lieutenant Governor
Sharma said that they have requested for the constitution and establishment of a separate financial commission for Panchayats and urban local bodies as per the law.
The AJKPC leader said they have also sought for inclusion of all DDC and BDC members in District Planning and Development Board wherein presently only DDC chairperson from DDC Council are allowed to remain present.
“To make Panchayats self reliant and finically empowered, it is long pending demand of elected PRI members and it was also promise of successive governments of J & K to give right to minor minerals, forest and water resources, thus it is once again prayed that mining rights over local minor mineral resources be collectively given to cluster of Panchayats for equitable distribution of resources.
The AJKPC delegation has also requested that rights over forest assets and water resources be shared with local Panchayats and Panchayats be empowered to develop these forests, the concerned forest officers should be asked to keep local Panchayts apprised of all forest assets, resources and also one copy of issuance of any timber/wood be endorsed by local panchayat for information to keep a check on illegal deforestation,
“Further, we have demanded that in case of death (due to any cause-natural or accidental) of any sitting elected PRI member, their next of kin, family member on the pattern of a deceased government employee be provided a job besides minimum financial support,” he said.
He also apprised about terror threats to PRI representatives in vulnerable pockets of Jammu and Kashmir and demanded for foolproof security to them.
They also demanded for formulation of policy wherein the family members of deceased PRI members killed in terror related incident be provided a government job and Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia without delay.
Other members of the delegation were Amjad Khatana, Manoj Pandita, Tara Singh and Ghulam Mohd Bhat.
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