Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, July 8: Suggesting Government to involve public representatives in planning and development at district level board meetings, former minister and senior leader of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), Aijaz Ahmed Khan has demanded implementation of Panchayati Raj Act in toto in Jammu and Kashmir.
Aijaz Ahmed Khan, in a statement, pointed out that the Government has failed to hold any District Planning and Development Board meetings in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Government should make Planning and Development functional in the districts of J&K by making an Advisory Council for time being to implement the demands of the people through their elected representatives,” he said.
Mr Khan said that if Government wants, ex-MLAs can be involved by inviting them as special guests in the Planning and Developmental Board meetings. This step should be taken to get advise in planning and review of the developmental activities in the board meetings.
The former minister reminded that the district level Planning and Development Boards have to be established in Jammu and Kashmir under Panchayati Raj Act under three-tier system, for which, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also made commitment to strengthen democratic institution in Jammu and Kashmir
As per Panchayati Raj Act, Khan said, the District and Planning Board consists of Block Development Council (BDC) Chairmen, Municipal Presidents and Legislators of the District or Member Parliament of the District.
“While three institutions like BDC, Panchayats , Municipal Committee and Parliament are existing, yet no Board meeting of Planning and District Development Boards have been organised from last many months depriving review and planning of the developmental activities,” he said.
The former minister alleged that none of the elected representatives from the three tiers – system is directly or indirectly being consulted by the administration for the formation of the Capex budget. He demanded that these district and planning board meetings should be conducted on regular bases by involving the representatives for the formulation and reviewing of the district budgets to effectively implement the general public’s demands with regard to developmental works. He also demanded that the Panchayat be given complete powers as per Panchayati Raj Act.
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