Direct funding for DDCs

25/10/2020

Union Home Ministry after amending Jammu and Kashmir's Panchayati Raj Act to set up the District Development Committees and Councils in Jammu and Kashmir is planning to keep population of the district (in the areas under the DDCs) as criteria for funding of the Committees as all the DDCs will have equal number of 14 elected members. In significant measures aimed at empowerment of the District Development Committees (DDCs), the third tier of Panchayati Raj Institutions which are being established for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Government has mulled handsome direct funding for the DDCs which will be in addition to the funds to be provided to them by the Union Territory Government for developmental works. Territorial Constituency Fund is also proposed for the elected members of the DDCs. Population is likely to be the criteria for direct funding of the District Development Committees. This is being done in view of the fact that certain districts like Jammu, Kathua, Baramulla and Kupwara have much higher population than Samba, Reasi, Bandipora and Kulgam districts and the population-based criteria of Central funding to the Committees will lead to equal distribution of funds.
As already highlighted by JOURNEY LINE, each DDCs will have 14 Territorial constituencies and an equal number of elected representatives. Therefore, the Territorial segments in small districts like Samba and Bandipora will be based on fewer numbers of votes as compared to districts like Samba and Srinagar. In a welcome step, the direct funding to the DDCs by the Centre and funds given to them by the Union Territory Government will empower the District Development Committees to formulate their annual budget for developmental works to be identified by elected members of the Territorial constituencies. The steps are aimed at real empowerment of the District Development Committees as is the case in many other States and this will lead to gross-root development in rural areas as third-tier of Panchayati Raj System will have significant funds at their disposal. The Block Development Council (BDC) Chairpersons and Panchayat members including Sarpanchs and Panchs will continue to have their say in development including the funds being received by them. The Central and Union Territory Governments have also proposed more powers for the elected District Development Councils but it will be done in such a way that the powers of Ministers, MLAs and other functionaries don't clash with them whenever elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir and the popular Government is formed.

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