Nagrota, Jan 28: Devender Singh Rana, political advisor to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the coalition government has set in motion an effective mechanism to empower people and involve them in planning and development process
 Addressing public meetings at Panchayat Marh, Bamyal, Jagti and Ragoora of Nagrota assembly constituency here, Rana said NC-Congress coalition has “given power to the voice of the people.” 
 “Conduct of free and fair panchayat elections after a long gap of over thirty years shows the determination of the Omar Abdullah to empower people at grass roots. Despite criticism of fear and speculations by various elements, the Government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah bravely held the elections and decision of the Government was supported by the people by voting in large numbers,” Rana said.
 Rana said that three years of the coalition government witnessed innovative and far reaching measures. “And the decisions taken by the Government have shown very positive results both on development and political fronts,” he said.
 Rana said that services of 14 departments were transferred to the Panchayats and the CM has recently granted Rs. 1.00 lakh to each panchayat for undertaking smaller works in respective panchayat halqas.
 Referring to the enactment and implementation of Public Service Guarantee Act, Rana said that this initiative of the Government is significantly important to give legal force to the rights of the people for receiving public service from the government departments.
 “JK is among the first few states of the country to have such an Act in place which guarantees public service to the people in a prescribed time frame and provides for punishment to the government functionaries for showing any laxity or falling in providing service in the prescribed time limit,” he said.
 Rana asked the people to remain vigilant against those who want to divide them in the name of region, religion, caste and creed. “You should remain united and extend fullest support to the Omar led coalition government so that comprehensive and equitable developmental process started in the State could be successfully carried on across the State especially the far flung and remote areas,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST