Excelsior Correspondent
PULWAMA, Aug 1: Maintaining that the Government has fulfilled its promise of empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said “we believe in sustained action rather than rhetoric besides selling false ideas and promises.”
The Minister was speaking at one-day interaction camp organized by Rural Development Department to monitor the status of implementation of the empowerment of the Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs).
Minister of State for Rural Development, Ajaz Ahmed Khan, Director Rural Development, Kashmir, Mir Altaf Ahmed, District Development Commissioner, Pulwama and other senior officers of different department were present.
The Minister said that the Government has already released Rs. 285 crore for the construction of 1800 new Panchayat Ghars and renovation, repair of the existing ones. He said “we have already empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions with powers of 14 vital departments and ensured effective decentralization of democracy. The Government has nominated Additional District Development Commissioner to monitor that the orders of empowerment of PRIs are strictly adhered to and we will not hesitate to initiate action against anyone trying to create hurdles in the same”, he added.
Mr. Sagar said that panches and sarpanches form part and parcel of the governance and they should work in close coordination with the officers to ensure proper implementation of various welfare programmes. He said that the proposal for their remuneration has already been sent to the concerned.
Lashing out at the opposition party, the Minister said that their recent statements have reflected their hunger for power. They have got frustrated by the developments registered and popularity of the Omar led Government and have now resorted to misleading the people of the state, he maintained and added that it was due to the tireless efforts of the Chief Minister that the people are now reaping the peace dividends.
Minister of State for Rural Development, Ajaz Ahmed Khan said that the Government by conducting Panchayati Raj elections and ensuring the empowerment of panchs and sarpanchs has ensured the effective decentralization of powers to the grass root level. He said that the officers should involve local representatives in policy making and implementation of various welfare programmes which would ensure that the benefit of these reaches the targeted populace.
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