Panchayat polls early; 119 villages developed as model villages

Srinagar, Aug 21 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Rural Development Jugal Kishore today informed the legislative council that the government is committed to hold panchayat elections in the state as early as possible.

Under PM's Reconstuction Plan, as many as 119 villages are being developed as model villages in the state with financial package of Rs 142.80 crore, and besides this three model villages are also being developed under state plan, Mr Kishore said.

The Minister said delay in holding the Panchayat election was due to exercise of delimitation of Panchayats, which started with a view to address the concerns of the rural community, besibes making provision for reservation of SCs/STs and women and re-organisation of Panch constituencies.

In absence of Panchayat, the flow of funds under different schemes has not been affected, rather the funds have been alloted by the Government of India on basis of population in the district, Mr Kishore informed.

The Government has also set up a committee headed by former Chief Secretary Mr S S Boleria to examine the demands of the new administrative units, he added.

The Minister said all the demands received by the department for creation of new blocks including Suchetgarh have been placed before the committee. Once the delimitation is completed, the demands would be looked into.

He further said identification of these villages was done in consultation with the concerned public representatives. An amount of Rs 1.20 crore have been earmarked for the development of each model villages, he added.

The main activities identified for the model villages include community facility centre, rural information centre, development of playing ground, children park, solar lights, shop line, lanes and drains, sanitary points, entry gate and other link roads, crossings, culvert ghats, the Minister said.

UNI