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| Legislators, political workers agree to disagree | | Empowerment of Panchayats in J&K | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb 17: It is like catch-22 situation for the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir that the empowerment of panchayats in accordance to the recent cabinet order, has drawn flak from the legislators and political workers of both the coalition partners who are annoyed by the decision and fear alienation from the people.
Though the government has announced devolution of powers of about 14 government departments including Rural Development, Agriculture Production Department, Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Education Department, Fisheries Department, Forest Department, Health, PHE, Irrigation and Flood control, however, legislators and political workers of both National Conference and Congress are up in arms against the empowerment decision. On the other hand, the ministries of the respective departments which have been brought under the direct monitoring of panchayats are also flouting the decision as panchayats are bypassed in decision making and implementation of development programs. As such the decision to empower the panchayats in the state is proving a double edged sword for the government.
Only the other day Panthers Party Legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia had a heated argument with the minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin at latter's office. Mankotia was angry with the minister for seeking resolution of panchayat for execution of water related schemes. On this Mankotia turned furious and threatened to raise the issue in the just commencing budget session of the state assembly. Taj, however, hit back saying he was committed to honour and implement the cabinet decision in regard to the empowerment of panchayats in the state.
Sources, said that cutting across the party lines majority of the MLAs including those from the ruling coalition annoyed with the decision have started asserting and impeding the process of development in their respective constituencies where involvement of Panchayats was mandatory.
On the other hand party workers especially the defeated candidates from both the parties have also started raising hue and cry over the decision of empowering the panchayats.
"We are being alienated from the people and stand isolated because of this decision, for every representation of public interest, we are being asked to get the resolution of panchayat" said a senior leader and who contested the 2008 election unsuccessfully on Congress ticket.
Another defeated candidate of National Conference who was replaced by very senior leader of the party in 2008 elections, said that they have been rendered useless. As such both Legislators and Political workers particularly defeated candidates are in agreement to disagree with the initiative of empowering the panchaysts.
Owing to this conflict from within the elected representatives, legislators representing urban areas coming under Municipal Councils and Corporations are caught between devil and deep sea on the question of devolution of powers to local bodies as and when the elections for these are held.
However, out of 14 departments given under the control of panchayats, very few are particular about the empowerment of panchayats and the rest are still working at the whims and frenzies of the ministers holding the portfolios of such departments. Though Education and Forest departments were already consulting village committees, however, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control under Taj Mohiuddin, Agriculture Production Department under Ghulam Hassan Mir, Fisheries Department under Aijaz Ahmad Khan (MoS) and Health Department under Sham Lal Sharma are strictly adhering to the cabinet decision. Rural Development being the nodal agency has not shown much progress so for. |
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