Jammu, January 05: In order to deliberate upon various issues related to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) of J&K Union territory, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today organised first Inter-Panchayat Conference of elected Panches and Sarpanches from different Panchayats of block Dansal.
This is the first of its kind Inter-Panchayat conference wherein the elected PRI members from different panchayts shared their experiences and shortcomings in dealing with the daily issues of their respective wards and Panchayats.
The program was organized by Sarpanch Kanta Devi of Panchayat Halqa Lower Kathar and presided by Anil Sharma, UT president of AJKPC.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharma informed that the main objective of the conference was to get firsthand information and share experiences and shortcomings being faced by different PRI members.
“It is the general experience of all participating members that, by and large, all the issues confronting Panchayat members are the same and the dictatorial attitude of the bureaucracy is the main reason for under-development of villages and Panchayats. The schemes and plans for the rural areas are being deliberated and finalized in lavish conference rooms of Central Secretariat New Delhi or in Srinagar/Jammu Secretariat attended by a coterie of counted heads who know nothing about the real issues of the people and just rely on the so-called data provided by their own Block Development Officers (BDCs) and other district officers,” he said.
The AJKPC said that no suggestion or opinion of elected representatives are ever taken while formulating plans worth billions of rupees for the welfare of the grassroots people.
Sharma said this is why AJKPC is organising such Iner-Panchayat and Inter-block conferences of PRI members and general people so that they can bring an authentic document articulating real problems and their solutions that are faced by the elected PRI members.
The AJKPC president said the documented demands of the PRIs of J&K would be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and J&K Government through the concerned Deputy Commissioners and each such memorandum would have name, seal and signature of each panch and Sarpanch.
The other prominent AJKPC members who attended the program include Amjad Beigh, Anil Kumar Barsala, Mohan Lal Mengi, Kuldeep Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Subash Chander, Deepak Kumar, Kamla Rani, Shanti Devi and Kuldeep Sharma.
