J&K Chief Secretary pledges support to elected representatives

In the wake of the allegations by elected representatives of being uncared for and sidelined, J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Monday met chairpersons of the District Development Councils (DDCs) and pledged support in strengthening the establishments.

In his first official assembly since he assumed the workplace final week, Chief Secretary Mehta described the elected representatives of the third-tier authorities, together with the District Development Councils, Block Development Councils and Panchayats, as ‘the foundation of vibrant grassroots democracy’.

“These institutions have given expression to the local needs in the Union Territory. They should stay abreast with the ground realities, local needs and issues.”

He stated the devolution of powers with respect to 29 capabilities enumerated within the eleventh Schedule of the Constitution has additional strengthened the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in J&K.

“Although the reforms have recently been introduced in the UT, J&K has rigorously implemented the provisions in letter and spirit and has caught up with better performing States and UTs in empowering the PRIs as institutions for local government and project planning and implementation,” he stated.

He additionally known as upon the District Development Councils ‘to encourage participatory democracy during plan formation through wider public outreach and participation’.

There has been voices of concern raised by the elected representatives in components of J&K, particularly within the Valley, that DDC chairpersons weren’t being consulted by high officers whereas framing the event coverage of the districts. They had even sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to guarantee participation of the elected DDC members in such conferences.

An official spokesman stated the DDC chairpersons apprised the Chief Secretary of district-specific wants and points confronted by them.

“The Chief Secretary assured the DDCs of prolonged support and help in the direction of progressive strengthening of the PRIs and efficient implementation of varied provisions enshrined within the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. He directed the divisional and district administrations to lengthen support and cooperation to the members of the DDCs and the BDCs.

The Panchayats, DDCs and BDCs are the one elected establishments in J&K after the BJP withdrew its support from the Peoples Democratic Party in 2018. After the Centre ended J&K’s particular standing in August 2019, elections to these establishments had been seen as new layers of illustration within the UT, the place the Assembly polls are nowhere in sight.