Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Mar, 14
All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today slammed newly elected District Development Council (DDC) members for demanding better status as well as honorarium instead of addressing the problems being faced masses. Hailing Central government’s efforts to strengthen grass root democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, state General Secretary of AJKPC and Sarpanch Gurdeep Singh Saini said “The general public had elected DDCs so that they would address the problems as well raise issue at highest level. Instead of engaging with people and addressing their problems, the members are demanding protocol, hike in their honorarium,” he added.
Singh threatened if government will accede their demands, the AJKPC will launch mass agitation. He informed Sarpanch and Panch has been demanding hike in monthly honorarium for the last more than two and half years but the government has not pay any heed to their demands. He said government must address issues of 1st tier of Panchyat Raj System including Sarpanch and Panchas followed by second tire of the system comprising members of Block Development Council and then consider demands of DDCs.
The AJKPC General Secretary added that the protest of District Development Council proves their selfishness and they are completely deviated from their duties. He stated that the Panchs and Sarpanchs have more responsibilities than the members of the DDCs and they are carrying out their responsibilities with utmost dedication even with minimum honorarium.
District President of AJKPC, Surjit Choudhary said that the Sarpanchs and Panchs have been ignored by the government and warned if government accede demands of BDC member then government should also give better status to Sarpanch at par with Sub District Magistrate.
