Omkar Dattatray
Democracy “is the government of the people, by the people and for the people” are the golden words of Abrahim Lincoln and this connotation of democracy finds approximation if democracy is delved down to grass root level. In order words, democracy becomes a meaningful preposition only when people are empowered at the grass root level. Thus, for democracy in real sense, it becomes necessary to empower people at the village, block and wad level. So democracy must percolate down the grass roots.
The power to take financial and other decisions should permeate to the village and town level. Therefore, for the decentralization of powers and devolution of authority, it is mandatory to democratize the institutions at the grass roots. So democracy becomes meaningful only when the powers of decision making are given to democratic units at village and ward level. It is the people in the ultimate analysis who are the masters of their destiny in a democracy as the fountains of power. So democracy must be percolated down to the grass roots so that people at the lowest level are given the authority of deciding the developmental issue concerning them at village and town level. Therefore, for the success of real democracy it is necessary that the powers must flow to the lower levels of democratic hierarchy. It follows that empowerment of people in the real sense is possible only when institutions of local self government are elected so that democratic functions and powers are given to people at the lowest ladder of democratic functioning. This is possible only when ULB, municipal and panchayats are formed through elections. In fact, for this it is necessary that grass root institutions should be formed and necessary powers, financial and others entrusted to them so that empowerment of people is possible in real sense. In J&K such elections of UBL and Panchayats are long overdue under the pretext of militancy and political uncertainty. The last elections to Panchayats were held by NC government in 2011 and last UBL elections were held in 2005. Governor S.P Malik deserves all praise for conducting ULB elections in all three provinces of the State.
There is dire need for the empowerment of people through these elections which are announced by the government. There is great need and necessity for holding, Panchayat elections otherwise huge amount of Rs. 4335 crore of 14th finance commission, central grants to duly constituted local bodies are withheld. Therefore these funds will be available to the UBL and Panchayat institutions only when these local bodies are elected. Besides, functioning and functionaries of all 29 subjects transferred to Panchayats under 73 amendment of the constitution will be transferred to J&K panchayats. Also primary health centres, primary schools and Anganwari centres will be entrusted to Panchayats for supervision. The Government of India has enhanced the grants to Panchayats from Rs. 10,000 to one lakh – a ten percent hike. Block councils will get Rs. 25,000 to 2.5 lakh. Every Panchayat will get 50-80 lakh per year for implementation of development schemes. As stated above there is greater need and necessity for these elections otherwise huge amounts of financial assistance is withheld by centre government because of non-existence of UBL and panchayats. Thus there is lack of development at lowest levels and people at gross roots are badly affected. Therefore, it is important that ULB and Panchayat counselors and Panchs and Sarpanchs are elected , so that funds flow down to the grass roots.
It is a matter of great satisfaction for people at the grassroots because they can elect , Panches and Sarpanches. It is a historical achievement for the people of the disturbed state that they will be given opportunity to elect their representatives who will represent them and work for them and in this lies the good of all. The much delayed huge funds will flow to these basic units of democracy with the constitution and election of these local self units of governance. The three tire democracy will usher in an era of empowerment, development at the lower levels. Thus this empowerment of people at grass roots will go a long way in mitigating the local issues of Sadak, Bijli, Pani, health and hygiene and other local issues once the local units are empowered. The elections to Panchayats will usher in an era of real democracy by empowering people at the lowest levels. Through this democratic exercise the people at the lower levels will become the masters of their destiny and development will take place at the local levels. The governor’s administration has declared that free and fair elections of local self governing units will be ensured and thus the people of J&K should take part in this democratic exercise for their own good.
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