Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Friday that “all issues of District development Council (DDC) representatives have been resolved amicably”.
As per a statement issued here, District Development Council delegates met the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha here at Raj Bhavan.
“The interaction was held in a pleasant and amicable atmosphere,” reads the official statement, adding, “Reiterating J&K Government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of DDC representatives, the Lt Governor observed that the three-tier Panchayati Raj system was established to empower the grass-root democracy.”
It further reads: “said Now, the true democracy is flourishing in the UT, which is not merely about governance but feeling of fraternity, brotherhood, and attitude of respect and reverence towards each other. We have to work together to meet the developmental aspirations of the people. The administration will ensure the three-tier Panchayati Raj system is strengthened in the UT, the Lt Governor told the DDC members.”
The delegation comprised of DDC Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons, and members including Bharat Bhushan, Saraf Singh Nag, Bari Andrabi, Irfan Panditpuri, Ms. Nuzhat Ishfaq, Ms. Tazeem Akhter, Malik Aftab, Juhi Manhas, Dr. Shamshad Shah, TS Tony, Shahnawaz, Suleman Mir, and Riyaz Bhat, who met the Lt Governor.
BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, PDD and Information Department, and Sheetal Nanda, Secretary, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj were also present during the interaction. However, there was no word on revisiting recent orders including one on honorarium and better status.
Cutting across party lines, the newly-elected DDC members had on Tuesday boycotted a two-day training programme here and staged a protest in support of their demand for better status and monthly honorarium, forcing the Lt Governor to cancel his inaugural session.
The DDC members staged the protest after the administration amended its warrant of precedence, placing the DDC chairpersons at par with administrative secretaries, vice chairpersons to vice-chancellors of universities and the DDC members to district magistrates.
As per the government order, the DDC chairpersons would get monthly honorarium of Rs 35,000 including Rs 1,500 travel allowance and Rs 500 telephone charges. Vice chairpersons will get Rs 25,000 including Rs 1,500 travel allowance and Rs 500 telephone charges and members will get Rs 15,000 including Rs 1,500 travel allowance and Rs 500 telephone charges. (With GNS inputs)
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