Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 01
The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Panchayati Raj Cell organised an impressive block-level “Panchayat Sammelan” at village Jandrah in block Dansal of Jammu district. The Sammelan was presided over by the Member of Parliament (MP) from Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary seat, Jugal Kishore Sharma, who was also the chief guest in the event. The programme was organised under the close supervision of state convener of BJP’s Panchayati Raj Cell, J&K, Anil Sharma.
Hundreds of people drawing from various villages of block Dansal enthusiastically participated in the Sammelan to celebrate the Central government’s decision to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the people, Jugal Kishore Sharma expressed his gratitude to the Union government for giving special focus to Panchayats in J&K and said that it would go a long way to encourage people to participate in upcoming Panchayat elections in J&K in large numbers.
“The Centre has recently announced that 29 subjects transferred to Panchayats across the country under 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India, will also be transferred to Panchayats of the State while the financial powers of the Panchayats will be enhanced 10 times. It is a landmark decision which is going to benefits the people at grassroots level,” Sharma said. The MP said the Panchayats in the state would now also be involved in implementation of key national schemes such as National Health Mission, Samagraha Siksha, Mission for Development of Horticulture, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
“This is happening for the first time in the state because the Centre is committed to strengthen the people at grassroots level. The real objective of these decisions is to empower common man at Panchayat level,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Anil Sharma, state convener of BJP Panchayati Raj Cell described the recent announcements as “historic” for the state PRIs, saying “every Panchayat will now get around Rs 50-80 lakh per year at its disposal for implementation of various centrally sponsored schemes”.
“It is reflection of BJP high command’s sincere commitments towards empowerment of people at grassroots level. The decentralization of powers to Panchayats will bring a positive change on ground,” Sharma said.
“The financial powers of Panchayats has been enhanced 10 times from Rs 10,000 to Rs one lakh for Panchayats and from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh for Block Councils. Besides, powers for ‘Own Fund Generation’ are also being given to the Panchayats. It will change the fortune of rural parts of the state,” he said.
Prominent among those who addressed the gathering were senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Sharma, Mandal president Dansal Satish Sharma, Ganga Dutt Sharma, Mohan Lal Verma, Pankaj Singh, Parshotam Singh, Puran Singh, Uttam Singh, Capt Jagdish Chuhan, Balwan Singh, Ram Madho Singh and Mani Ram.
