‘Govt defeating basic purpose of Panchayat Act’
Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, July 8: Accusing the Government of overlooking the security threat to Panchayat members in J&K UT, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today urged the UT administration to provide security cover and residential accommodation to elected Panchayat members including Block Development Councils (BDCs) immediately.
The AJKPC alleged that the Government was overlooking the security threat to Panchayat members who have been on radars of militants since the constitution of last Panchayats in 2011.
“After the killing of Ajay Pandita Bharti, there has been fear psychosis among Sarpanches and Panches as the Government has taken no measures to restore their faith in law enforcement agencies. The Panchayat members residing in danger zones should be provided security as well as residential accommodations at safer places so that they are able to carry out developmental activities without any fear,” Anil Sharma, UT president of AJKPC said while addressing a gathering of Panchayat members in Kokernag area of district Anantnag today.
Demanding security to all those who make representations before the ADGP (Security) or concerned IGPs of two regions, Sharma made a fervent appeal to the security agencies that they should seriously look into the life threats to Panchayat members.
Taking serious exception to the Government decision of utilizing 14th Finance Commission funds under convergence scheme, the AJKPC leader also said that there has been strong resentment among Sarpanches and Panches against the decision.
“As per the norms, the Government can’t utilize 14th FC funds under convergence scheme and it should refrain from such ulterior motive as it would disrupt the developmental activities in rural areas across Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“The officers don’t accord the set protocol to which the BDCs are entitled for under the Act and alleged that officers at district level were ignoring them. It defeats the basic purpose of Panchayati Raj Act,” they said.
They also appealed to UT administration to clear Rs 1,000 crore MGNREGA liabilities for financial years 2016-17 to 2019-20.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included BDC chairpersons including Mumtaz Ali, Tahir Hussain and Parveena Akhtar, and Sarpanches comprising Amjad Choudhary, Jaan Mohammad, Basharat Khan, Shabir Kan and Ghulam Nabi.
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