ADCs to monitor transfer of powers to Panchayats: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 5 : Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today reviewed the headway made on the implementation of Government orders regarding the transfer of powers from various departments to Panchayat Raj institutions. He had given 15-day time for making these orders fully operational on ground and in today’s meeting he got appraisal of the action taken in this regard.
Omar was apprised that all the departments have issued direction manuals to ensure that the powers transferred are utilized and exercised by the Panchayat institutions at their level.
He directed for making Additional District Development Commissioners In-charge Officers to daily monitor the operationalization of these orders at ground level and report the compliance of orders by various departments regularly to the higher level in the Government.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for expanding the capacity building programme launched by Rural Development Department to train Panchayat members for excellent service delivery and utilization of powers. He said NGOs and experts in the field should be involved in the comprehensive training programme for Sarpanches and Panches.
Omar received the status of constitution of State Election Commission for Panchayat elections and separate Finance Commission for these institutions. He also received details of the roadmap for constitution of Block Panchayat Council and holding of election for Legislative Council seats reserved for Panchayat Members.
The Chief Minister directed all the concerned departments to put in place a mechanism where under every department would at its own level monitor the implementation of transfer of powers to the Panchayats pertaining to that department. He said while the Rural Development Department will be doing monitoring for all departments, every department concerned should also monitor the implementation of the orders issued and ensure these are adhere to strictly at the ground level.
Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that though Panchayat Raj system exits in various States in the country, yet the quantum of power transferred to these institutions by Omar Abdullah-led Government has put Jammu and Kashmir as the frontline State in this regard. He said the keen interest of the Chief Minister to see Panchayat Raj flourishing and becoming strong and strong to deliver effectively on ground is being translated into reality by the joint efforts of Rural Development Department and all other concerned departments.
Minister of State for Rural Development, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, various Principal Secretaries and Administrative Secretaries were present in the meeting.
The Chief Secretary at the outset told about the series of meetings he had taken to concretize the implementation roadmap of the orders issued for transfer of powers to the Panchayat institutions regarding functions, functionaries and finances.