SRINAGAR: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar, today said that the Rural Development Department ensures due consultation with elected representatives, including legislators and other stakeholders at various levels, during the formulation and finalisation of developmental plans.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by legislator G.A Mir in the Legislative Assembly today.
He said that during the current financial year, directions were issued for the incorporation of Rs 20.00 lac under CD & Panchayat for each MLA. Moreover, Budget announcements based on the feedback from the MLAs are being accommodated as per resource availability.
The Minister said that an amount of Rs 3403.59 lac, as projected by the MLAs, has been incorporated in the current year’s Capex Budget (CD Panchayat).
He said that the proposals and recommendations of elected public representatives are duly accommodated while formulating the developmental plans.
The Minister said that the works under CD & Panchayat, UT Capex, Budget are being executed in consultation with the concerned public representatives.
“Instructions are being issued from time to time to consult the elected representatives while formulating developmental action plans under various programmes being implemented by the Department,” the Minister said.
The Minister informed that the elected representatives in Jammu and Kashmir, including members of District Development Councils (DDCs) and Block Development Councils (BDCs), are involved in developmental plans through various roles, such as approving district-level plans, participating in participatory planning campaigns like the People’s Plan Campaign, and providing oversight. The establishment of DDCs, which replaced old planning boards, has formally integrated elected members into the process of preparing and approving district plans and capital expenditure.
