By: Faizan Wani
Srinagar: The government has informed the department-related parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs that Rs 1584.25 crore has been provisioned for Panchayati Raj Institutions, block development councils and district development councils in Jammu and Kashmir’s budget for the ongoing financial year.
In its action taken report submitted to the panel, the government has informed the panel that funds to the tune of Rs1,313 crore have been provisioned for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rs 271.25 crore for district development councils (DDCs)/block development councils (BDCs) out of Union Territory’s budget 2021-22 for strengthening local body Institutions.
The ATR further reveals that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir is in a process to devolve adequate funds, functions & functionaries to Panchayats in terms of 73rd constitutional amendment, besides to ULBs under 74th constitutional amendment.
The ATR was submitted as the parliamentary panel had earlier recommended to the government to devolve more funds, functions and functionaries to the Panchayats in the UT to bring it at par with Panchayats of the other States/UTs.
“The Committee notes that School Education, Health, ICDS, Rural Development, Social Welfare and other Departments have been transferred to Panchayat Raj Institutions at various levels along with financial powers. The Committee is of the view that adequate delegation of power should be made for the grassroots institutions of Panchayats. Therefore, the Committee recommends to devolve more funds, functions and functionaries to the Panchayats in the UT to bring it at par with Panchayats of the other States/UTs,” read the report.
The elections for three tiers of Panchayati Raj were held after BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government in June 2018.
While Panchayat and BDC polls were held in 2018 and 2019 respectively, the DDC polls were conducted in 2020. (KNO)
