Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq Khan today said the Government is committed to strengthen the democracy at grassroots level by holding Panchayat elections.
“All arrangements are being put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the polls and the formal notification in this regard will be issued soon by the competent authority,” the Minister said while winding up the debate on the Demand for Grants of the Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and allied departments in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister enumerated in detail the achievements of Rural Development Department during the past three years and outlined the future plans of the department. He said the department has laid a network of roads, bridges and culverts in the State under MGNREGA scheme that has changed the socio-economic status of the rural populace.
Stating that the improved implementation of RDD schemes has given fillip to the rural economy, Minister said the department has done tremendously well in all facets of human endeavour and a silent revolution is taking place in rural areas.
Abdul Haq said since the launch of MGNREGA in the State, Rural Development Department has for the first time done some commendable works which has been acknowledged at national level and has also won many awards in last three years.
He said the department shunned its tradition of constructing lanes and drains on political considerations and instead concentrated on building a network of roads, culverts and other durable assets while providing job to lakhs of unemployed youths of the state.
He said the department constructed 679 bridges, 2283 culverts, 31337 roads during past three years that speaks volumes about the success of the implementation of this scheme in rural J&K. The department also took up the task to build sports infrastructure in rural areas to help youth to showcase their talent and in this regard the department constructed 561 play fields.
He said the department has also constructed 2696 ponds, 885 check dams, 3617 water harvesting tanks, 561 play fields, 72 fisheries ponds, 55 Anganwari centres, renovation of 4622 traditional water bodies and 20143 micro irrigation works while providing jobs to 23.90 lakh persons.
The Minister said now when the department has been able to lay a web of roads and culverts, it will shift the focus to water conservation and stress will be laid on the initiatives to conserve water.
Stating that Government is committed to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level, he said that direction has been issued to the field officers to organise Gram Sabhas so that people of the villages decide themselves about the development works to be taken up in their village and not the contractors or officials.
“Directions have also been issued for making decisions of the Gram Sabhas public soon after its commencement that will ensure transparency in plans and no work will be included without the approval of the Gram Sabhas”, he added.
Giving details about introduction of technology to monitor the assets, the Minister said all the assets in the districts have been geo-tagged and is a touchstone of transparency that will enforce better monitoring, recording and management of development works at the cutting edge level.
He said to bring transparency and accountability in the system one Ombudsman will be shortly engaged for two districts in the state to look into any complaints.
The Minister said the department achieved another milestone in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the State by adopting e-FMS. The system allows direct transfer of fund from State Account to job card holder’s account, reducing human intervention at bare minimum level thereby considerably reducing delays in wage payment.
Under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna, Minister said 15081 beneficiaries have been registered while 9655 houses are under construction and Rs 52.82 crore have been spend so far out of the total available budget of Rs 123.94 crore.
While talking about the success of State Rural Livelihoods Missions’ Umeed scheme, the Minister said that the biggest success of UMEED scheme in the State is that it has boosted the self esteem and self confidence of women folk especially living in rural areas.
Under Swachh Bharat Scheme, the Minister stated that there are 1075604 households without toilets while the department has covered 360411 households till the end of year 2017 and has spent Rs 263 .35 crore out of the received budget of Rs 350.62 crore.
He said Leh and Kargil has already been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) while 12 blocks and 146 Gram Panchayats have been declared ODF.
Under Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), Minister said the objective of the program is to conserve natural resources like soil and water, improve the water table, restore the ecological balance, increase vegetation cover and provide livelihood to asset-less people. He said under the program the department has taken steps to conserve the runoff water and soil by way of construction of rain water harvesting tanks, recharge pits, percolation tanks, check dams, development of spring, farm ponds and bowlies etc.
He said the department constructed 842 field channels , 875 Gabian/crate structures, 1250 water harvesting tanks , 334 check dams, 1046 protection and retention walls, 166 water tanks and 418 bowlies and ponds besides land levelling at 65 spots.
Later, the House passed the grants of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.
Earlier, all members withdrew their cut motions after getting a satisfactory answer by the Minister that he will take care of the issues raised by them except Ali Mohamed Sagar of NC who pressed that his Cut Motion be put to vote and it was defeated by a voice vote in the House. Sagar while strongly advocating in favor of his cut motion said his party never opposed the Panchayat elections. You (Government) took no one on board regarding holding of Panchayat elections in the State.He said the Panchayat elections were also held during NC regime under a peaceful environment. He urged the Minister that Government should rethink and take political parties on Board in this regard and discuss the same with them. Moreover before holding the Panchayat elections the Government should assess the security situation also, he added.
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