Excelsior Correspondent
BARAMULLA, Aug 4: Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said that the empowerment of Panchyati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is a befitting reply to the forces that had earlier raised doubt about the same and now in a state of frustration are trying to resort to lies and misleading people.
The Minister was speaking at one day interaction organized by Department of Rural Development to oversee the status of implementation of the empowerment of PRIs and also to review the various flagship schemes. Thousands of people besides Panchs and Sarpanchs of Baramulla district attended the function held as a part of series to monitor the orders of empowering the PRIs.
Minister of State for Rural Development, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Minister of State for R&B, Javid Ahmed Dar, District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, G.A. Khawaja, Director Rural Development Kashmir, Mir Altaf Ahmed and senior officers of various departments were also present.
Mr. Sagar said that the holding of Panchayati elections and putting in place Panchayati Raj Institutions, besides ensuring their proper empowerment is one of the landmark decisions of the Government and will serve as a watershed in the history of the State. He said that it has also served as a befitting reply to the forces which were spreading canards and propaganda against the same.
Referring to the long pending demand of Panchs and Sarpanchs, the Minister said that a proposal for giving a suitable re-numeration has been sent to the Finance Ministry and “we are hopeful that a decision in this regard will be taken soon.”
Mr Sagar said that for augmenting the infrastructure of PRIs an amount of Rs. 285 crore has already been released for construction of Panchayat Ghars and repairs/ renovations of the already existing ones. He said that an amount of Rs. 1 lakh has been kept at the disposal of every Panchayat for undertaking developmental works and Rs. 25,000 for purchase of the requisite furniture.
Asking the officers to involve the Panchs and Sarpanchs in various developmental programmes, the Minister said that the orders have already been passed for empowering them with 14 vital departments and the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who will flout the directives.
Minister of State for Rural Development, Ajaz Ahmed Khan and Minister of State for R&B, Javid Dar also spoke on the occasion.
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