AJKPC protests, seeks early release of funds for Panchayats

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 13: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) members today held brief protest at Dansal in Jammu and urged the Governor Satya Pal Malik for early release of funds for Panchayats, saying development activities in rural areas of the State have come to a standstill due to non-availability of funds.
“Over two months have passed since the Panchayats were constituted in Jammu and Kashmir but not even a single penny has been released in their favour which has badly affected development works in rural areas of the state,” Anil Sharma, state president AJKPC said while addressing Sarpanchs and Panchs of Dansal block of Jammu district.
Sharma said the State Government had notified that a specified amount would be given to each Panchayat under 14th Finance Commission but that amount too has not been released to them till date. He also referred to the Centre’s flagship programme, MGNREGA scheme which was envisaged for the generation of employment in rural belts of the State.
” The scheme has been lying defunct for the past six months in the state as the liability of material cost is still there. No new work has been undertaken under the scheme which is defeating the very purpose of the scheme in the state,” AJKPC leader said, adding that there were no funds at the disposal of Panchayats due to which they were able to carry out development activities.
Sharma raised the difficulties being faced by the people in rural areas due to non-bifurcation of ration cards.
“We appeal the Governor to seriously look into the issue as it is directly attached to the problems of each household in rural areas. He said due to non-bifurcation of ration cards, the deserving and needy people are not able to get the benefits of various centrally sponsored schemes. The state administration must simplify the process of bifurcation of ration cards, AJKPC president said.
Prominent among those who were present included Ramal Singh, Balbir Singh, Amzad Beg, Mansa Ram, Kanta Devi, Gulzar Bibi, Soma Devi, Jasmine Akhtar, Onkar Singh, Kuldeep Kumar, Saraj Din, Balwan Singh and Khurshid Ali.

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