Srinagar, Apr 11: Chairman of Peoples Conference Sajad Lone on Wednesday advised the ruling National Conference and Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to try and redefine the role of MLA and stop clipping the powers of the Panchayats.    
 “It is an unsolicited advice to both the parties to try and redefine the role of MLA as it was originally envisioned and stop clipping the powers of the Panchyats and thereby become an impediment in the liberalization of the economy,” Sajad said while addressing a group of Panchs and Sarpanchs.
 A PC spokesman said a group of two dozen workers from the Zaingeer Block, Sopore in north Kashmir called on Sajad Lone and expressed their desire to join the party. They were welcomed by the PC chairman into the party fold.
 The workers were headed by Sarpanch Dooru A Imtiyaz Afzal Beigh, Sarpanch Dooru B Tanveer Hussein Dar and Sarpanch Zaloora Ghulam Ahmed Lone aka Pehelwan.
 “Empowerment of the Panchayat system is an imperative for liberalization of the state economy viz-a-viz a decentralized system of governance,” he said.
 Launching a scathing attack on MLAs, he said, “The MLA, under the prevailing system, interferes in allocation of drains, retaining walls, issuing IAY and recommending people as helpers in the Aaganwari system. This has in essence translated into linking poverty alleviation schemes to the vote. Thus the local MLA has emerged as the new monarch punishing those who voted against him and rewarding those who voted in favour. The Panchayati system comparatively is in sync with ground realities, is a decentralized system and has checks and balances in the form of collective decision making by Panchs and Sarpanchs.”
 “Tragically, for all the noises made by both the parties, NC and PDP are united in their resolve of not transferring the powers to the Panchayat. The report of a committee hosting MLAs of both the PDP and the NC has recommended drastic curtailment of the powers of the Panchayat system, rendering the Panchayats powerless and reducing them to mere errand boys of the local MLA,” he added.
 Sajad said that it’s an undeniable fact that the institution of Panchayats had polled more votes than the institution of the assembly. “Why is the majority vote of the Panchayat treated with such disdain and contempt by the comparatively minority vote of the Assembly. And how can a vote cast for Assembly clip the powers of the vote cast for the Panchayat. The basic problems stems from the mismatch of roles.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST