Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 24: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said the pioneer leadership of the State always believed in decentralisation of the power with an inclusive approach of bringing all the sections of society as the stake holders in the developmental process and decision making.
The Minister was speaking during National Panchayati Raj Divas at Vigyan Bhawan here today. It was attended by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh and Rural Development Ministers of different States were also present.
Mr. Sagar said that it was the idea of our stalwart leaders that the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the concept of Single Line Administration should go in tandem with each other, and this holistic and broad based concept of decentralisation of power is an example in itself , which we will find nowhere in the country. He said this concept of governance, if provided a conducive atmosphere to flourish and brought out of the clutches of political uncertainty, can definitely strengthen the concept of democracy at the grassroots. “It is our firm belief that the institutions of the Panchayti Raj in Jammu & Kashmir besides being an instrument in socio-economic progress, is also a way forward for building confidence among the people to the extent that they feel that they are part and parcel of a democratic process”, he maintained.
Due to the political uncertainty and the unfavourable circumstances prevailing over the last two decades in the state, the concept of Panchayati Raj Institutions could not flourish, as a system of governance, although an abortive attempt was made in 2001, but it couldn’t fructify into a vibrant institution due to obvious reasons, the Minister maintained.
It is only the present dispensation in the J&K which braved all the odds and took a historic decision of conducting Panchayat elections in the State and after a gap of almost three decades a complete first tier of PRIs was put in place by constituting 4139 Gram Panchayats (Halqa Panchayat). He said that the mass participation of people in these elections signalled a change in the mind-set and the firm belief of the people in the democratic institutions, which needs to be gauged and the need of the hour is to harness this motivation and the public mood as an opportunity both with the State and the Central Government, in leaving no stone unturned in strengthening this institution of governance, by bringing people out of the clutches of uncertainty.
Mr Sagar said that the State Government is striving hard to strengthen this institution by way of infrastructure development, capacity building, remunerations, supporting staffing etc., out of the limited resources available with the State but keeping in view the financial position of the State, which has got crippled over a period of time due to the turmoil, the State can’t augment these institutions on its own unless and until adequate funding for infrastructure development, trainings, supporting staff etc is made to PRIs from Centre.
While appreciating the awarding of three Gram Panchayats from J&K for being identified to be awarded as the best panchayats, the Minister said that to qualify for such a prestigious award is an indication of the sincerity of the State Government in strengthening these institutions of grassroots democracy in a shortest period of time and also depicts the sincerity of the panchayat representatives in serving the people not only in economic development but in other social concerns also.
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