Measures for equitable devp in JK: SFC

Srinagar, Sep 9: Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a four-member State Finance Commission to review and suggest measures for equitable development of all regions in the state.

The commission, constituted after an Act was passed recently, will recommend how to make equitable distribution of resources available for development and making good backlog of development and employment.

Headed by Dr Mehmood-ul-Rahman as a chairman, Swami Raj Sharma, Prof Nissar Ali and Sonam Dawa will be its members.

An official spokesman said the Committee would submit its recommendations on mapping the regions and sub-regions with reference to well accepted development indicators, identifying the backward districts.

It will also be assessing deviation from the main development, evolving a set up policy instructions to equalise and balance the dispersal of development across the districts, formulating a set of administrative measures aimed at bringing about reforms in decisions making in governance and development through decentralised processes and mechanism, identifying employment backlog at regional , sub-regional levels and measures for removal of disparities.

The Commission would also suggest measures to augment the resources of the state government, particularly to supplement resources of halqa panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations.

The Commission shall also review the state of finances of the state and suggest restructuring of the public finances restoring budgetary balance, achieving macro-economic stability and debit reduction.

He said the commission would also review and suggest measures for effective implementations of the recommendations and awards under the twelfth finance commission.

The Commission will visit district and block headquarters of the state for physical verification, interaction and to receive representations in context to the functions of the Commission.

As per Secretary of the Commissioner Dr Deen Mohammad memoranda from general public including NGOs, societies, groups and individuals have been invited which can be submitted in the office of the Secretary of the Commission Civil Secretariat Srinagar and Jammu up to end of December 2007.

UNI