Empowering Panchayats

17/10/2018

For the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, the Panchayati Raj Institutions have been really empowered with the State Government today assigning charge of 20 Departments to them by an act of legislation, just ahead of nine-phase Panchayat elections, which are scheduled to be held between November 17-December 11.The National Conference-Congress coalition Government headed by Omar Abdullah had made similar attempt to extend control of some Departments to the Panchayats by an administrative order but the plan didn't succeed. Keeping in view the past experience, Governor Satya Pal Malik using the Legislature powers vested with him under the Governor's rule and the Assembly being under suspended animation, approved requisite amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act to give cover of legislation to the powers extended to Panchayats.
Implementation of important Schemes line MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Mid-Day Meal and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) have been devolved to the Panchayats," sources said, adding that monitoring and supervision of schools and health institutions have also been passed on to the Panchayati Raj Institutions to make them accountable to the society. Panchayats will also be conducting concurrent/ quarterly social audit of works/ programmes in their area. However, along with all the authority, responsibility to ensure socio- economic and human development of the area will also be vested with the Panchayats. The most significant change is the addition of specific schedules in the Panchayat Act giving extensive powers to Halqa Panchayats and Block Development Councils in many areas, covering almost 20 Departments. There are also specific schedules with financial powers for HalqaPanchayats and Block Development Councils, which will go long way in giving powers to the people right at the grass root level and ensure transparency in working of the Departments, which will be directly accountable to elected representatives of the people at village level.
Panchayats shall also be conducting concurrent/ quarterly social audit of works/ programmes in their area. However, along with all the authority, responsibility to ensure socio- economic and human development of the area including literacy, sex ratio, water conservation, natural resource management, agriculture/ horticulture development, health etc has also been placed on the shoulders of the Panchayats. The announcement of major powers to the Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs) could encourage more contestants to the Panchayat elections, scheduled to start on November 17 in nine phases and will conclude on December 11.

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