The decision by the Government to slash the Capex budget of each Panchayat by Rs 7 lakh-from Rs 23 lakh to Rs 16 lakh-comes as a significant setback to the spirit of grassroots governance. At a time when rural development hinges heavily on the vitality of Panchayati Raj Institutions, this move threatens to derail the momentum achieved over the past few years. Since the establishment of DDC in 2020, these institutions have become the sole functional leg of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the UT. With the absence of elected BDCs and the delay in fresh Panchayat elections, DDCs have played a pivotal role in steering development in rural areas. It is through these institutions that essential works-ranging from road construction and water supply to education and healthcare infrastructure-have materialised in the remotest corners of J&K.
Reducing funds now, especially when DDCs are in the final year of their term, not only hampers developmental progress but also sends a demoralising signal to elected representatives and the rural electorate that placed their faith in grassroots democracy. The justification that MLAs have been elected and their Constituency Development Fund is now part of the District Capex fails to recognise a fundamental reality: MLAs, by virtue of their broader legislative responsibilities, do not focus on Panchayat-level issues with the same granularity or immediacy as DDCs. Moreover, during the past several years-when the region was functioning without an elected Legislative Assembly-it was these Panchayati Raj bodies, especially DDCs, that ensured governance did not come to a halt. With their experience, a wide range of projects stand executed across districts.
Dismissing or sidelining DDCs now by budgetary curtailments and growing administrative interference risks stalling rural development and weakening the very institutions that ensured democratic decentralisation took root in J&K post-2019. Rather than diluting their powers or shrinking their budgets, the Government should recognise the crucial role DDCs and panchayats have played. Sustained and sufficient funding is not just about finance-it is about empowering the last mile of governance and keeping the promise of participatory development alive in Jammu and Kashmir.
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