Empower panchayats for J&K’s stability, govt urged

Jammu, January 16

The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), an organisation working for the welfare of panchayts, today organised a one-day state level convention.

Former ‘panches’ and ‘sarpanches’ belonging to different districts of Jammu as well as Kashmir attended the convention in large numbers.

Anil Sharma, president of the organisation, thanked the participants for their strong belief in democracy. He said even in the hostile atmosphere of the state, they gracefully completed their tenure of five years.

Sharma said the only solution that could strengthen democracy and bring political stability in the state was the full empowerment of panchayats and local bodies which was enshrined in the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution. He asked the state leadership to respect democratic values and not play with the autonomy of the institutions. Shafiq Mir, chairman of the organisation, condemned the ‘apathetic’ approach of the state government and asked it to extend ex gratia to the family members of the deceased panchayat members besides providing suitable government jobs to the next of their kin. — TNS