Empowerment of grassroots
Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar March 26 (KINS): Jammu and Kashmir administration has asked bureaucrats to connect people through Panchayats for strengthening of grassroots in the Union Territory.
There are 4400 Sarpanches and over 35,000 Panches in Jammu and Kashmir.
A senior official said New Delhi has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to empower Panchayats.
“The Centre believes that development is only possible through Panchayats. New Delhi believes that Panchayat members are well connected to people and can implement various schemes effectively and address grievances of people in a better way,” the official told news agency KINS.
The official said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh in several meetings has told officers that Panchayats should play an important part to get people’s grievances addressed.
“Manoj Sinha has told officers that it is not necessary that common masses should approach officers to get their grievances addressed. He instead told them to strengthen Panchayats so people visit Panchs and Sarpanches who can address their issues at their own level,” the official said.
Similarly, another official said the administration has been setting up a complaint box in Panchayats for redress of people’s complaints in the Union Territory.
The official said the step has been taken so that the government gets feedback from grassroots about the performance of the Panchayat system in Jammu and Kashmir.
“People can give feedback about the Panchayat system and about utilization of funds in various developmental works,” the official said.
As per the official, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has also directed that a particular mechanism be adopted for opening of drop boxes installed in all Panchayat Halqas and ensure that the complaints, grievances, suggestions received are properly disposed off and no grievance remains unattended.
“Besides the complainant is being responded to through letter and informed about the action taken on this complaint. District Development Commissioners shall regularly monitor the execution of Back works,” the administration has directed officers.
Sources said DCs have also been directed to constitute teams in order to ascertain the punctuality of officials at sub division block level. (KINS)
