JK govt fulfilled promise of empowering panchayats: Minister

Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar today said the government has fulfilled its promise of empowering the people at grassroot level by conducting the "historic" panchayat polls after a gap of three decades.
"We have fulfilled the promise of ensuring democratic decentralisation of power at the grassroot level and its a befitting reply to the people who were spreading rumours," Sagar said while addressing a group of panchayat members in Reasi district.
He noted that democratic decentralisation of power at the grassroot level has ushered a new era in the political setup of the state.
Sagar said a senior officer of the rank of Additional District development Commissioner will be monitoring the orders of empowerment of panchayat bodies in every district.

He advised panchayat representatives to work in close coordination with the officials to ensure need based and sustained development of their respective areas.
The minister asked the officers to involve panchayat members in formulation of various schemes.