AJKPC hail Centre's package for Panchayat Raj Institutions

All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today hailed the Centre for sanctioning Rs 420 crore for the empowerment of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the state.
"The 33,000 Panchayat representatives of Jammu and Kashmir welcome the package.
"We hope that the Union Government would not only release the money, but also make sure that the amount is used for the welfare of the PRIs and state government does not divert the funds for any other purpose as it has been doing in other schemes," General Secretary, AJKPC, Anil Sharma, said here.
Sharma said that during the meeting with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi last year, the organisation had raised the demand for Panchayat Halqa Development Fund on the lines of MPLAD funds and added that the gesture will build trust among the panches and sarpanches who are otherwise "deprived of any rights" by the Jammu and Kashmir government.

He, however, urged the Centre to directly transfer the funds into the account of respective Panchayats.
"The Union Government should directly transfer the funds into the respective Panchayat's Constituency Development Fund Accounts, so that the panchayats can independently use this fund in consultation with the Gram Sabha without any interference of bureaucrats," Sharma said.
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh during a function in Budgam area yesterday had announced that the Centre will provide Rs 420 crore to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayats every year.
"Each of the 4,200 panchayats in the state will get an amount of Rs 10 lakh as untied funds every year," Ramesh had said.