73rd amendment in JK: AJKPC Writes to MPs Urge them to Intervene

^{ALL JAMMU & KASHMIR PANCHAYAT CONFERENCE}

P R E S S    NOTE

 Implementation of 73^rd amendment in JK

 AJKPC Writes to MPs Urge them to Intervene

Omar Govt has lost Credibility: AJKPC

Jammu, 10/Dec/2013: Today in a press conference, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, AJKPC an organization of elected Panchayat representatives strongly condemned the State Government.

While addressing the media persons, Anil Sharma, President of the organization said that since the state government has lost its credibility amongst the panches and Sarpanches therefore now they are compelled to seek the intervention of the Central Leaders for implementation of 73^rd amendment of Indian Constitution in the state for empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions. He also displayed the copies of memorandum prepared by the Panches and Sarpanches for all the parliamentarian of Rajya Sabha (243 members) and Lok Sabha (545 members) where the Members of the parliament have been urged to intervene and ask the  J & K  government to implement 73^rd amendment  and make necessary arrangements for the safety and security of the Panchayat representatives. In the memorandum, the panchayat body has sought the cooperation of the parliamentarians  to accomplish their mission of strengthening democracy and empowering citizens through Panchayats.

They have also submitted, “” Honourable MP, you might be aware of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir State conducted Panchayat elections in 2011 where there were over 80 percent polling over all and even in some cases more than 90 percent, people dared the anti-national forces and came open for the cause of democracy. The state government before the elections had promised due powers to the elected Panchayat representatives but it never made its promises and rendered the Panchayats ineffective as it has not given them any power and authority”. While accusing the J & K government of remain callous in its approach towards PRI’s the memorandum reads “ The state government of J & K is so callous in its approach towards  empowering Panchayats that it has not even completed the process of establishing three tier system. Though over 2 year time has gone since elections of panches and sarpanches but elections to the Block and district level Panchayat bodies still remain incompleted ”.

It has also been stated  that Under present system there is no independent and autonomous election commission and finance commission for the panchayati Raj Instituions in the state due to which the state government always undermine the PRI’s and deprive them of their legal right because the 73^rd amendement of Indian constitution which calls for empowered panchayti Raj Institutions has not been implemented in our state . There are over 33,000 Panchayat representatives in the state and all  want the implementation of all the provisions of the 73^rd amendment here. As on date at least 6 Panchayat members have also been killed by the militants but the state government has made no arrangements for the safety and security of the Panchayat members.  

Those others who were  present on the occasion and spoke include, Vimla Devi, President Women Wing, Kulbushan Khajuria Additional General Secretary,  Sardar Kamal jeet Saini, Madan Lal, Vijay Saini, Raj Mohammad Chandel, Jeevan Lal, Avinash Devi, Kanta Devi and Noor Mohammad.