Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29: Prominent youth leader and Chairperson, Block Development Council, Budhal (Rajouri) Javed Choudhary has sought the attention of Central Government and the State Election Commission to various administrative and functional challenges requiring extension of term of Gram Panchayats to hold elections co-terminus with District Development Council, in the interest of democracy and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Javed stated that establishment of the three-tier Local Self-Government has been a landmark democratic achievement for Jammu and Kashmir, however it took more than two years to have the complete set-up in place. The Gram Panchayats constituted towards the end of 2018 lost more than 1 years in view of evolving administrative understanding at ground level and the longer period of uncertainties around the time of 2019 constitutional changes.
He further stated that more than 2 years were further lost during the Covid-19 first and second wave, wherein Panchayats played substantial role in the control and management of Pandemic but lost the major opportunities on developmental front in view of restrictions in place notified by the State Disaster Management Authority.
He invited the attention of the Central Government, UT Administration and the State Election Commission towards the vital role played by the Gram Panchayats in initiating historic developments at ground level which are being acknowledged by the UT and Central Government at every occasion which calls for offering the Panchayats sufficient time to deliver on ground, on the front of democracy and development. Citing the loss of time in 2019 followed by two years during Covid-19 Pandemics he appealed the authorities to extend the term of panchayats to hold the elections simultaneously with the District Development Council which will provide a meaningful tenure to panchayat and also set a futuristic roadmap for simultaneous elections.
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