Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Maintaining that Government has ensured full empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that the democratic decentralization of the power to the grass root level has ushered a new era in the political setup and history of the State.
The Minister was addressing a gathering of Panches and Sarpanches of the Reasi district during a one day interaction organized by the Rural Development Department to oversee the status of implementation of devolution of powers to the Panchayati Raj Intuitions.
MLA, Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Nirmal Sharma, Director, Rural Development Department Jammu, Shafiq Ahmad Raina, former Minister Jagjivan Lal and other senior officers of different departments were present on the occasion.
Referring to the historic decision of the Government to hold Panchayat elections and putting in place a vibrant Panchayati raj system, the Minister said “we have fulfilled the promise of ensuring the democratic decentralization of power to the grass root level and befitting reply has been given to the people who were spreading rumors and lies”. He said that a senior officer of the rank of Additional District development Commissioner would be monitoring the orders of empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institution in every district.
Mr. Sagar said that Panchayati Raj representatives should work in close coordination with the officers of different departments to ensure need based and sustained development of their respective areas. He said the officers should also involve them in formulation of various schemes and both should work in complete synergy.
Referring to various flagship schemes of the Department, the Minister said that they have been instrumental in changing the socio-economic profile of the people of the rural areas. He said that an amount of Rs. 48.41 crore has been spent under MGNREGA in the district during 2012-13 registering a cent percent utilization of funds earmarked under the scheme.
Similarly the amount of Rs. 1.30 crore has been spent under Indira Awas Yojana and Rs. 2.18 crore have been spent under Nirmal Bharat Abhyan upto March this year in the district.
MLA, Reasi Baldev Raj Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
The Minister also distributed cheques to the beneficiaries of Nirmal Bharat Abhyan on the occasion.
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