Making Panchayats financially able to carry on their activities related to development of villages and allied issues connected therewith and keeping its commitment made prior to conducting of elections about providing a financial support to these grass root democratic institutions, the Central Government has released Rs.282 crore . It may be noted that this amount is just the first instalment while the Central Government has decided to clear grants for civic bodies under 14th Finance Commission worth Rs.4335 crores for Jammu and Kashmir State . The heartening aspect of this is that the elected bodies would be getting the same soon. This vindicates the stand of the State under the Governor’s rule (then) and the Central Government that funds earmarked for the elected bodies were blocked and not released for want of a democratic framework to have elected bodies to receive the same for massive infrastructural development and hence conducting of these elections successfully without a solitary instance of any violence from any part of the State heralded the setting in motion of the important role expected to be played by the elected Panchayats and the ULBs, in the State.
The above scenario was well envisaged that not only were elections long due to these elected bodies but the people at village and block levels were eager to have them conducted to manage their day to day activities through elected Panchayats. The antipathy as also the increasing loathing towards the issue was observed from the two political parties of the State , the National Conference and the PDP on an assumed “fear” in respect of Article 35A and most decidedly , their “boycott” to these elections only to play to galleries of the sort, proved a damp squib. Had they cooperated, their contribution would have earned them all the credit which fully went to the Governor, the Central Government and at the top to the people who participated in this democratic exercise much needed to bring the State out from the morass of pulls and pressures of the particular hue sponsored by a belligerent neighbour with support from some opportunist secessionist and divisive elements from within.
Not only has the first instalment of Rs.282 crore been released by the Central Government but the same has been received by the State Government and releasing the same to newly elected Panchayats for taking up developmental works too has started , such is the importance given to promote Panchayati System in the State. Very soon, as per assurances from the Central Government, release of more and adequate funds as promised for Panchayats would be released before the end of the current Financial Year 2018-19 or in other words, in just two months. With this , hopefully all the 4490 Panchayats would be in a position to find them financially well supported by the end of March 2019.
Funds are all earmarked and in envisaged requirements at the Central Government for both Panchayats as also for Municipalities and after completion of some requisite formalities , the centre would release the funds. The funds would be released to the Panchayats depending on certain fixed parameters like the area, terrains and also requirements. Needless to add, it again needs to be reiterated that majority of grants to the elected bodies are released only if elections are held to them or else these funds are blocked pending elections hence the dire importance of holding elections to these bodies in the interests of the people at the grass root levels. Again, it may be recalled that Central grants running into hundreds of crores of Rupees had been stopped by the Central Government for ULBs and Panchayats for want of elections to them. However, a new era of rejuvenated Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies duly elected, is set to address the indisposition of the scenario that existed due to the absence of the daring and innovative political initiatives in the subject matter prior to imposition of the Governor’s rule.
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