Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president, G A Mir has said that Congress Party will observe April 24 as National Panchayat Day, as the 73rd and 74th amendment incorporated in Panchayati Raj Act was passed by the Parliament on this day in 1990, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Panchayats and ULBs.
He said Congress was committed to decentralization of power at grass roots level through Panchayats to ensure that poor, down-trodden and weaker section living in the country and other get benefitted.
While addressing senior party functionaries at Srinagar Party office today PCC president emphasized the Party leaders to gear up for observing April 24 as National Panchayat Day to mark the historical initiative of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to incorporate 73rd and 74th amendment in Panchayati Raj Act, ensuring 33% women reservation in Panchayats and ULBs.
The women empowerment and decentralization of power at grass roots level through panchayats was Rajiv Gandhi’s dream come true and the party will continue to work in that direction, Mir said.
The bill to incorporate 73rd and 74th amendment was introduced in Parliament in 1989, subsequently it was passed in 1990. It was landmark decision of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, who was extremely concerned about the development of people at grass roots level, Mir added.
Referring to the ongoing 45 days of “Chalo Panchayat Ki Aur” Mir said that Party had decided to review overall development at grassroots, besides the tall claims with regard to Back to Village events by the Govt during the 45 days programme aiming to get the feedback from Sarpanchs and Panchs.
It was very disappointing to observe that the Panchayats were not being allowed to function, besides the authority of these institutions were undermined in a systematic manner, Mir said and added the democratic institutions not only in J&K, but across the country have been weakened by the BJP Govt.
Senior leaders Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Surinder Singh Channi, District Congress Committee presidents, DDC Members, MC Chairmen, Councilors, SMC Corporators, frontal organization heads and others were present in the meeting.
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