Every distt given Rs 5 cr for Panchayats
Malik reviews law & order
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 21: Governor Satya Pal Malik today reviewed law and order situation, preparedness of the Government machinery to maintain peace and normalcy in the State and approved Rs 5 crore for each of 22 districts for developmental works in the Panchayats identified during ‘Back to Village’ (B2V) Programme.
The Governor also directed that Rs 800 crore released by the 14th Finance Commission so far to the Panchayats can be leveraged by the Deputy Commissioners by incentivizing Sarpanches to spend money on the ‘Back to Village’ works.
Malik today held high-level review of security situation, developmental works and supply of essential commodities with his four Advisors including K Vijay Kumar, KK Sharma, K Skandan and Farooq Khan, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Financial Commissioner to Governor Umang Narula.
He reviewed law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley where restrictions remained in force in some of the areas since August 5 following scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of the State and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
He was given detailed briefing on the situation in the entire State by the Advisors and top bureaucrats. While situation was completely normal in Jammu and Ladakh, it remained peaceful in Kashmir as well with no major incident from any part.
The Governor directed the need for constant alertness, preparedness and synergy among various departments and agencies to enable dealing with emerging situation in a coordinated and effective manner.
He called for constant monitoring of the law and order situation for restoration of complete normalcy. He also issued directions to the administration to ensure that the common man doesn’t suffer.
“The Advisors and the bureaucrats gave assessment of the prevailing situation regarding availability of essential supplies and delivery of various public services to the people including electricity, water and healthcare in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh,” sources said.
They added that there was no dearth of essential commodities in any part of the State including the Valley and their supply is being ensured to the people.
Restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir divisions on August 5 following scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of the State and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Restrictions have been withdrawn in Jammu region except night in some of the districts.
Announcing certain important decisions for development of rural areas through the Panchayats, Malik reviewed follow-up of the ‘Back to Village Programme’ undertaken in June this year.
He directed the Finance Department to place Rs 5 crore at the disposal of every district and Rs 5 crore at the disposal of every Divisional Commissioner to start minimum of one work per Panchayat identified during the ‘Back to Village Programme’. The State has 22 districts and three Divisional Commissioners.
He also directed that Rs 800 crore worth funds released so far by the 14th Finance Commission to Panchayats can be leveraged by the Deputy Commissioners for incentivizing the Sarpanchs to spend money on ‘Back to Village Programme’ works. The Deputy Commissioners will give a small matching grant for each work, he said.
The decisions, according to sources, will give pace to the developmental works in rural areas through the Panchayats and will also serve the purpose of ‘Back to Village Programme’, which had find mention in July edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
During ‘Back to Village Programme’, the Government officers visited every Panchayat for two to three days, spent nights there, listened to problems of the people, identified developmental works to be done with the help of Panchayat members and briefed Sarpanchs and Panchs on various issues.
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