Saying that Panchayati Raj Institutions are vital for development of rural areas, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq today said steps are being taken to make PRIs fully functional by empowering them so that rural populace gets maximum benefits of RDD schemes.The Minister said this while addressing a meeting of members of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) of Poonch, Nangali, Sathra, Mandi and Loran blocks convened to review developmental schemes and the functioning of the Panchayats in the district.Member Legislative Assembly, Haveli, Shah Mohammad Tantray, District Development Commissioner Poonch, Nisar Ahmed Wani, Senior Superintendent of Police, J S Johar, Director Rural Development Jammu, M L Raina, Additional District Development Commissioner, Arvind Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Development, Dr. Basharat Hussain, District Panchayat Officer, Zaffar Ahmed Banday, Shamim Dar, Javed Choudhary, Ch. Abdul Ghani, Taj Mir, Bagh Hussain Rathore besides Sarpanchs, Panchs and other officers were present in the meeting.
Assistant Commissioner Development, Dr. Basharat Hussain gave a brief to the Minister regarding various schemes of RDD in the district besides apprising him about the challenges before the department in the district including Rs 23.65 cr liability under MGNREGS.In one-to-one interaction with Sarpanchs of several Panchayat representatives of different blocks, the Minister reviewed the functioning of schemes like IAY, MGNREGS besides enquiring about the planning process of their Panchayat and urged for comprehensive planning for the holistic development of villages. Responding to the issues and demands of the Panchayat members, the Minister assured that all their issues and genuine demands would be addressed on priority.Stressing for creation of durable assets in villages, Khan asked the PRI representatives to formulate plans keeping in view the overall developmental needs of the villages urging them to ensure tangible impact of the rural development schemes on ground.
Emphasizing on the need for greater efficiency and accountability of the PRIs, the Minister said steps are being taken to digitize them by providing necessary e-infrastructure and internet connectivity reasoning that availability of online information regarding different schemes and status of works will ensure accountability and efficiency of these democratic institutions. He said that Panchayats are being provided adequate resources to start a new era of development all over the State and to ensure maximum rural population is covered and benefited with rural development schemes.Warning the officials to desist from indulging in wrongdoings, the Minister said that government has started massive drive for making state corruption free and in RDD verifications are being conducted to detect lapses in the implementation of developmental schemes warning further that stern action shall be taken against the wrongdoers.
While speaking on the occasion, MLA Haveli highlighted democratic decentralization as imperative for effective planning and development at the grass root level and said that empowerment of PRIs would truly lead to development in the rural areas. Earlier, the Minister reviewed the functioning of RDD in Block Surankote and also interacted with PRIs members and stressed for coordinated and dedicated efforts to take rural JK on the path of progress.