Poonch/Jammu, April 26 (Scoop News) – Announcing the intension of government to provide constitutional guarantee to powers of panchayats, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday said that his government is mulling relevant legislation in this regard.
“In order to do away with all rumours and speculations being circulated by some people regarding the establishment of a powerful panchayat system in the State, we will provide constitutional guarantee to the powers conferred on the panchayats”, he asserted and said that relevant legislation in this regard will be brought into force.
Addressing a huge public meeting at Poonch about 240 kilometres from
“It was not easy to break the 35 years long lull that had engulfed the restoration of panchayat system in the State”, he said adding that his government has made it possible to constitute panchayats and transfer powers to these democratic bodies along with finances for undertaking smaller works. He said the system would be strengthened furthermore by the constitution of block and district bodies.
The Chief Minister said that the four seats in Legislative Council are reserved for panchayats adding that the election to these is to be conducted by the Election Commission of India. He said that decks have been cleared for holding the election of MLCs reserved for panchayat which would follow constitution of block and district panchayat councils. He said the services of 14 government departments have been conferred to panchayats besides providing financial support of Rs. 40 crores.
Lambasting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its negative politics, the Chief Minister said that the leadership of this party do not like to see the sea-change brought about by the coalition government in the State on development, peace and political fronts. “They have covered their eyes with black glasses, as such, deny to see the brightness of positivity and progress visible on ground to everyone”, he said adding that people are best judges to judge the work done and cannot be mislead by false propaganda.
On corruption, Omar Abdullah referred to the constitution of
“This is visible by the fact that the Accountability Commission in its first functions questioned the State Government’s authority regarding some particular subjects. We are also receiving scores of queries in various government departments regarding the functioning, status of works and transactions”, he said adding that strong, free and empowered institutions to curb corruption vindicates the firm will of the government to check the malpractices and bring in transparency.
On the development of Poonch Constituency, Omar Abdullah said that district hospital has been completed at a cost of Rs. 8.50 crores and Rs. 3 crores gynaecological block and C. T. Scan unit are coming up in the hospital. He said 40 new primary schools have been opened in Poonch Assembly Constituency during last three years besides upgrading 12 middle schools and 35 primary schools. He said 136 Rehber-e-Taleem teachers have been appointed and 205 regularized. He said 30 more primary schools are being opened in the area this year. He said more than Rs. 7.80 crores are being spent on upgrading infrastructure in schools in Poonch Constituency.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad rejected the propaganda of PDP against the government and National Conference, saying that the leadership of PDP is surviving on rumour mongering and false propaganda.
Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, Provincial President, NC, Rattan Lal Gupta and local leaders also addressed the meeting.
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