JK Govt announces honorarium for Sarpanches, Panches

Jammu and Kashmir government today announced remuneration for Sarpanches and a provision of Rs 231 crores for devolution of powers to Panchayats.
"I have proposed to pay renumeration of Rs 2,000 per month to all the Sarpanches (in the proposed budget for 2012-13)", Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said in the state assembly.
He said the Panches will be paid a fee of Rs 300 per sitting subject to a monthly ceiling of Rs 600.
"The question of appropriate renumeration for Sarpanches and Panches have been engaging the attention of the government", Rather said, adding, "we have collected the relevant information in this behalf from other states in the country where the Panchayat Raj System has been practiced."

There are 33,000 Sarpanches and Panches in the state elected last year, who had been demanding perks and remunerations besides financial and decision making powers to the Panchayat.
"We welcome the step taken by the state government which have announced the grant of renumeration to Sarpanches and Panches", Congress MLC, G Monga said, adding, "government has fulfilled its promise done with the members of the Panchayats and it has given us great pleasure".