With This Historic Move, Panchayati Raj Has Been Further Empowered: LG
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday approved over Rs 12, 600 crore district capex budget for 2021-2022, terming it a historic decision for equitable development of the Union Territory with active involvement of Panchayats, Block Development Councils (BDCs) and District Development Councils (DDCs).
Compared to last year’s budget of Rs 5134.40 Crore, the historic and unprecedented District Capex Budget of Rs 12,600.58 for all 20 districts was approved during a high-level meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday, an official spokesperson said.
During the marathon meeting, he said, 20 Chairpersons of DDCs and all Deputy Commissioners gave a brief overview of their respective District Plans.
Highlighting the key features of the District Capex Budget, the LG, as per official spokesperson observed that the community need-based plan has been prepared through Public/ PRI’s participation which focuses on a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people, employment opportunities to the locals, ensuring better roads, potable water and electricity, tourism potential, empowering youth and determining other priorities as per the public demand.
As per the official spokesperson, Sinha said that the bottom-up approach has been adopted to map optimal strategy for socio-economic development, sustainable and inclusive growth at the grass root level, strengthening of basic amenities, and development of human capital by solidifying health and educational institutions.
“J&K is witnessing a new dawn. For the first time, after the detailed deliberations, a plan has been prepared with collective efforts of the PRIs and the Administration. The active participation of the public and their representatives in the planning process has laid a strong foundation for the developmental plans at Gram panchayat, Block and District levels,” the LG said, as per the official spokesperson.
“The district plan preparations started at Panchayat level & through BDC, it finally reached the DDC,” he added.
Congratulating the DDCs, BDCs, Sarpanches, Panches, officials of UT Administration for preparing the ‘historic’ district development plan, the LG, as per official spokesperson maintained that the community-based planning will play a key role in the implementation of the development works.
“With this historic move, the three-tier Panchayati Raj system has been further empowered through funds, functions & functionaries in J&K UT to cater to the developmental needs of the people through efficient mobilization of resources,” Sinha said, as per official spokesperson.
He further said that the LG directed the Deputy Commissioners to take urgent action in order to tackle implementation constraints in infrastructure projects.
“More than 80% works taken up this year should be completed within 12-months with the true spirit of Jan Bhagidari and through help of PRIs,” the LG told the DCs.
According to the official spokesperson, the LG further asked the DCs and PRIs to focus on Youth engagement, Solid waste management, improving Health & Education sector, provision of clean drinking water/irrigation facilities, better mobility, livelihood generation, and tourism & sports infrastructure.
Sinha, he said, advised the DCs to maintain connect with the public, besides sharing best practices for better and effective implementation of developmental works.
“Fulfilling people’s requirements is the top-most priority of the UT Government. The change must be visible on the ground. People need better governance, transparency and timely completion of welfare projects,” the LG said, as per official spokesperson.
He said that the LG reiterated the directions passed in earlier meetings, and further instructed the DCs for updation of the Districts’ websites with details of beneficiary-oriented & social security schemes, works under District Plans, besides ensuring availability of online services to the people.
Emphasizing on maintaining transparency and accountability in the implementation of the District plan, the LG, as per official spokesperson, directed the concerned functionaries to ensure that each panchayat must display the list of plans approved and date of completion of the works.
He said that the LG further informed that the Government is initiating District Evaluation Framework which will be finalized soon and the performances of the districts and their ranking will be published monthly.
“An institutional mechanism will be put in place for monthly review of the progress in every district,” Sinha said, as per official spokesperson.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Baseer Ahmad Khan- Advisors to the Lieutenant Governor; Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Administrative Secretaries, besides other senior officers participated in the meeting, in person and through video conferencing.
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