Amendment to Panchayati Raj Act passed in J-K

An amendment to the Panchayati Raj Act is passed in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council today.
The LA Bill No 12 of 2014 regarding amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 was moved in the Council by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
The Bill was passed after a brief discussion. It includes the provisions of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act that provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions in India.
It provides provision for honorarium to the chairpersons of District Planning,Development Board; chairpersons, vice- chairpersons of Block Development Councils as may be prescribed by the Government from time to time.

All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference( AJKPC) has welcomed the Council's nod to the 73rd amendment bill which ensures autonomous and constitutional status to 4125 panchayats besides mandatory panchayat elections after every 5 years.
"It is a historic decision which would script new era of democracy and empower the basic democratic units in the state," AJKPC president Anil Sharma said.
It is the result of the continuous and dedicated movement of 33,000 panchayat members, Sharma added.