Jammu, May 1: Amid attacks from opposition over its alleged failure to empower the Panchayats, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has scheduled a high level meeting to take an overview of the working of these newly elected rural bodies.
 Sources said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would chair a high level meeting on May 8, 2012 in Srinagar to review the ground impact of the functions entrusted to these institutions, particularly in the backdrop of demands for bringing these at par with the Panchayati system in other parts of the country.
 Sources informed Greater Kashmir that the meeting would particularly review the ground impact of supervisory powers of 14 departments given to the Panchayats.
 They said the meeting, to be attended by the heads of all the fourteen departments, Panchayati Raj minister and other higher officials of various departments including Finance and Planning, would also discuss the possibility of conferring more functions to the Panchayats.
 “Few months back the state government had made it mandatory for 14 government departments to spend funds at Panchayat level only through the elected body, besides it has also kept Rs one lakh at the disposal of each Panchayat” they said, adding that now the government intends to review the implementation of these decision.
 The government, sources said, had already asked the fourteen government departments to spend funds at Panchayat level only with the consultation of elected representatives. “After the cabinet order, the Finance and Planning departments had also issued detailed guidelines for these departments. The Panchayats have already been given full powers to monitor the spending of funds at Panchayat level” they said, adding that the government want to review the implementation of funds, function and functionaries i.e 3Fs (Funds, Function and Functionaries) at Panchayat level.
  Pertinently, the state government had decided to review the progress of spending of funds by 14 department and funds being given to Panchayats under various schemes periodically.
 “Already the funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) are being used under the guidance of elected representatives of Panchayats” they said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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