Shah assures J&K sarpanches to provide administrative, financial support

An official spokesman said here this evening that on the second day of his two-day tour, Shah along with Governor Satya Pal Malik interacted with a delegation of sarpanches from all over the state.

Addressing the sarpanches, the Union Home Minister urged them to be the agencies of inclusive growth and development in the Rural areas.

He assured the Sarpanches that the Government would address all their issues and provide all kinds of administrative and financial support to them.

He impressed upon them to ensure that all Central Government Schemes are implemented at the grass root level in their true spirit.

Shah asked them to work in an honest, fair and just manner so that public reposes faith in them and they become the true representatives of people.

Shah emphasized that while they are being provided with all rights and authorities, they should always keep in mind their responsibilities and makes every effort to serve people selflessly.

He said that only legislation and Government orders cannot strengthen Panchayats till the time the Sarpanches and Panches take upon themselves the responsibility of bringing development and benefits of all Government Schemes to every rural household.

Earlier, while expressing their gratitude to the Government for conducting Panchayat Elections in the state and taking several steps to empower the Panchayats, the Sarpanches, they projected their demands for a separate Election Commission, Finance Commission, untied funds on the pattern of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to Sarpanches and Panches, constitution of next two tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions etc.

The Sarpanches who spoke on the occasion included Anil Sharma, Altaf Thakur, Fatima Begum and Javid Qadri.

They also highly appreciated the Back to Village initiative of the Government and said that people of the State are happy with this effort of bringing the administration to the doorstep of rural masses.