This refers to the statement of J&K Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar. He said the 73rd Amendment of Panchayati Raj cannot be extended to J&K under Article 370. But why was then the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) extended to J&K? The problem with J&K is that our governments hastily adopted the draconian laws enacted by Indian Parliament. Laws like POTA, TADA, DDA, AFSPA etc were quickly extended to J&K, but when it comes to pro-people laws, our politicians talk of Article 370. It took us five years to have a strong RTI Act in J&K, while the same was enacted in 2005 by government of India. J&K government enacted a strong RTI Act in March, 2009, and till then we had a very weak RTI law which was passed by J&K assembly in 2004. The political parties, especially all the MLAs in J&K, do not want to give more powers to Panchayats. And that is the reason that they want to keep J&K Panchayats weak so that it won’t be a threat for all of them. The job of an MLA will just be to make laws and spend their Constituency development Fund if 73rd amendment is done. Even the Government is not implementing the existing J&K Panchayati Raj Act of 1989. The Block and District Council elections are not being conducted. The officials of Rural Development Department are not at all cooperating with the Sarpanches and Panches. Strong Panchayati Institutions in J&K is needed. The government must without any delay adopt 73rd amendment of Panchayati Raj Act.

Shahnawaz Sultan
Panchayat Member
Yarikalan, Chadoora, Budgam

Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST