Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: An amount of Rs. 200 crore is being spent on construction of 1788 Panchayat Ghars as well as repair and renovation of existing 2300 ones, whereas, the Chief Minister has provided a special fund of Rs. 41 crore for creation of assets and an additional amount of Rs. 11 crore at the rate of Rs. 2500 has been given to the Panchayats for furniture and fixture.
Remuneration is being paid at the rate of Rs. 2000 per Sarpanch and Rs. 500 to Panchs per sitting and maximum of two sittings per month.
The information was given by the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar while replying to a question by Sham Lal Bhagat in Legislative Council today.
The Minister further informed the House that Union Government is in process of sanctioning the special scheme for strengthening the planning process and shall provide Rs. 10 lakh per Panchayat for a period of 5 years. He further stated that Panchayats have been empowered with powers of 14 departments and a special window has been created under State budget wherein the funds of various departments whose powers have been devolved are given to the Panchayats.
Mr Sagar further stated that tax collection powers are already envisaged in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act. However, the taxes can be collected only with the permission of the State Government, he said and maintained that this aspect is under active consideration of the Government and since it involved many stakeholders, therefore, the decision has to be taken after looking at larger picture of tax collection in the State.
Supplementaries were also raised by Ali Mohammad Dar, Jugal Kishore, Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Jahangir Hussain Mir.
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