Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday expressed firm resolve to make Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) more powerful, efficient, and effective in the Union Territory.
Sinha was addressing a function organised to celebrate National Panchayati Raj Day at Palli, a nondescript hamlet in the border district of Samba which on April 24 last year became the country’s first ‘carbon-neutral panchayat’ with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation a 500-kilowatt solar plant.
The LG also conferred UT-level Panchayat awards to the awardees, launched ‘Mera Samba’ Swachhta app for community participation and inaugurated 18 ‘smartpurs’ for Samba and six for Anantnag on the occasion, an official press release informed.
“Collective efforts of the common man and panchayats are playing an important role in realising big dreams of small villages of the Union Territory. By establishing and strengthening three-tier grassroots democracy in J&K, PM Modi has ensured rapid and inclusive development,” Sinha said.
“It is our firm resolve to make PRIs more powerful, efficient and effective,” the LG said.
He urged all public representatives to give priority to the underprivileged to realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of ‘Poorna Swaraj’ through ‘Gram Swaraj’.
“Our efforts should also focus on removing developmental imbalances,” he added.
Sinha said, “Rural growth is the main pillar of the country’s development and to achieve our objectives, gram panchayats will have to play a major role in economic empowerment of all citizens, ensuring that benefits reach the last mile and active participation in grassroots planning and execution.”
As powerful agents of socio-economic change and engines of rural development, he said, the panchayats are making a significant contribution to nation-building and empowering people to meet the challenge of sustainable development.
The LG said the historic visit of PM Narendra Modi to Palli laid the foundation for making panchayats in the UT strong and ‘Atmanirbhar’. “I am proud that Palli is shining in various sectors and it has emerged as a model of rural development,” he added.
The LG highlighted the major steps taken to strengthen grassroots democracy in Jammu Kashmir.
“Devolution of funds, functions & functionaries and seamless coordination at each of the levels of the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj has given tremendous boost to aspirations of rural society. It is our firm resolve to make PRIs more powerful, efficient and effective,” the LG added.
The LG also spoke on “progressive” policies and schemes aimed at increasing farmers’ income, enhancing their skills and directly connecting them with various Centrally Sponsored and UT’s schemes.
The LG called upon the elected representatives to complement the government’s efforts in implementation of the groundbreaking 29 projects worth Rs. 5013 crore for the holistic development of agriculture & allied sectors.
“I am confident that the success of this Holistic Agriculture development plan will guide the prosperous future of Jammu Kashmir and help in doubling the contribution of the agriculture sector in J&K’s GDP in the next five years,” he said.
The LG also inaugurated Smriti Kaksh and flagged off ‘SwachhtaKarwan’ to mark the occasion. A compendium on Amrit Sarovars & Coffee Table Book on the capacity building and training of elected representatives of J&K was also released.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member Parliament; Keshav Dutt Sharma, DDC chairperson Samba; Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Administrative Secretaries; PRI members, senior officials and a large number of people were present.
LG reviews implementation of JJJM & SBM-G with senior officials
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a review meeting on Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) today at Raj Bhawan, an official press release informed.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to LG; Union Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, (DDWS) in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Vini Mahajan; Principal Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, along with other officers attended the meeting.
The LG appraised the district-wise status of ongoing and completed works under Jal Jeevan Mission across J&K UT, and discussed the quarterly action plans for coverage of household tap connections and the community mobilization in the implementation of JJM.
The chair was briefed on the various important components of the Jal Jeevan Mission including status of tendering/allotment of works, procurements, financial requirements under JKIDFC & JJM, Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance, NABL Accreditation of District Level Laboratories, Slow Sand Filtration Plants, etc.
Discussions were also held on SBM-G. The chair was briefed about progress in the construction of Community Sanitary Complexes, targets for ODF Plus villages and Solid Waste Management. The Lt Governor observed that community participation is key to speedy implementation and JJM & SBM (G) should become a Jan Andolan with the help of PRIs and Citizens.
