Minster for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Abdul Haq Khan today inaugurated two-day “Write-shop on Participatory Planning for Gram Panchayat development plan organized by Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in collaboration with Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India at Institute of Engineers Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Write-shop is a unique initiative towards strengthening the roots of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state and providing substantial resources to address local developmental issues, especially relating to the provision of basic civic services.
He said that the objective of write-shop is to finalize the guidelines for implementation of 14th Finance Commission in Halqa Panchayat Development Plan and also to create awareness and conducive environment besides to ensure effective participation of people in the planning and decision making process to oversee implementation of development programmes to launch the mission “My Village, My World” so as inculcate the sense of sensitivity of rural households towards their respective panchayats.Underscoring the importance of adopting a participatory planning process to ensure fair, transparent and effective utilization of funds and other resources particularly MGNREGS in development of Gram Panchyats, Mr Haq said that Writeshop is being organized to facilitate intense and creative discussions resulting in the drafting of State specific Action Plans and Guidelines for GP level planning.
The Minister said that rural development department has taken various developmental projects like construction foot bridges, road connectivity, restoration of infrastructure damaged due to floods, irrigation bunds that would create durable assets besides generating employment opportunities.Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Sarada Murlidharan, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Special Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Kuldeep Lal Khajuria, Director, Kerela Institute of Local Administration, Dr. P P Balan, Consultant National Institute of Rural Development, R. Surya Narayan, Chief Executive Officer SLNA, Mission Director, NRLM, Director Panchayati Raj, Director Rural Sanitation, Director Rural Development, Kashmir, Director Rural Development, Jammu ACDs, DPOs, sarpanches and panches were also present on the occasion.