Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Parliamentary Outreach Programme for the empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, Srinagar.
Outlining that the objective of the Outreach Programme is to make our democratic institutions at the grass-root level stronger and more transparent and accountable, Birla said that democratic institutions like Gram Panchayats can make people’s lives better and for that, collective and coordinated efforts are needed at the ground level.
“Empowered Panchayats will make our democracy stronger, and will increase confidence of the people at large,” he said.
Birla also referred to the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav events and said that democracy in India has been strengthened over the period of time. He noted with satisfaction that hopes and aspirations of the people have been fulfilled to a large extent and now India is leading the world community in the journey of democracy. Shri Birla also said that it is a democracy which connects our diversities and makes us a collective force. He stressed that our collective force can help us to overcome the adversities that impede our progress.
Birla lauded the developments in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the UT is on the path of peace, progress and development.
On this occasion, he also assured that elaborate arrangements would be made by the Lok Sabha Secretariat for capacity-building programmes for representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the Union Territory.
Suggesting that development should start from the bottom as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi at the time of Independence, Birla appealed for active participation of the people in democratic institutions and democratic processes. He felt that elections to local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir have strengthened our democracy and this process would ultimately help the people.
Speaking on this occasion, Union Minister of State for the Ministries of Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel referred to various government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana that have reached the intended beneficiaries in the recent past. He said that in democracy, Panchayats have a significant role in channelizing the fruits of development at the grass-root level. Shri Patel also said that government schemes, which have been overseen by the representatives of local bodies, have improved the way of life of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha said that Gram Panchayats and PRIs are at the heart of our development process and they can provide good governance at the grass-root level. Referring to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments, he hailed the implementation of the three tier Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha also said that enhanced budgetary support to the PRIs in Jammu and Kashmir is ensuring rapid development of the Union Territory. He also called for improving transparency and accountability of democratic institutions and use of technology in this regard. By 2024, all the households in Jammu and Kashmir will be provided 24×7 electricity, said Shri Sinha.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Member of Parliament from Srinagar said that Panchayati Raj Institutions are the foundation stone of our democracy and called for providing more resources to these institutions and transparency in implementation of works at the Panchayat level. He exhorted the representatives of these bodies to work honestly and serve the people in all possible ways. He also recalled several attempts made in the past to implement the three-tier system in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that newly elected representatives would win the trust of the people, in times to come.
