Srinagar, June 14 (KNS): Ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Tuesday said elected legislators felt disempowered after the Panchayat Raj Institutions were given role in allotting development work in rural development and other departments.
Aijaz Ahmad Mir, MLA Wachi, while speaking during discussion on grants on Rural Development Department and Law and parliamentary Affairs said that the NC-Congress government led by Omar Abdullah disempowered PRIs after legislators lobbied for it.
“MLAs would recommend people for schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, but when the power was devolved to Panchayat Raj institutions in allotting development work in social welfare and rural development, the MLS became apprehensive and feared their role was over,” Mir said.
Mir, who was himself a sarpanch before winning 2014 Assembly polls on PDP mandate, said despite witnessing 82 percent participation in 2011 Panchayat polls, the previous government destroyed the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs).
“National Conference took the credit for historic 2011 panchayat polls,” he said.
He said that when PRIs were being given power, the tussle between MLAs and Panchayat members began.
“Realising their role will be less in some development work, 35 MLAs called on then chief minister, Omar Abdullah to inform him that their role in the constituencies will be less if PRIs are given some departments,” he said.
“The polls for Block Development Councils and District Development Councils were to be conducted within 43 days after the Panchayat polls but the government ignored it and thus disempowered PRIs,” he said.
Mir while referring to Minister for Rural Development Department, Abdul Haq Khan, said that before the polls for Panchayat elections are held the government should make it clear to them about their role.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“In 2011 polls, less-experienced people contested elections, and educated youth, fearing militants, did not participate. Now, if the government rather than empowering them disempowers them how could educated youth come forward and contest the elections,” he said.
Recollection his role as Sarpanch and working for their empowerment, the MLA said that a delegation of Panchayat members went to then CM to Omar Abdullah and Ali Muhammad Sagar, who was then minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj to decentralize institutions and delegate power to panchayatas.
“Then 15 departments were announced in which we were told to have a role,” he said.
“But the powers which were given to panchayatas representatives were to punish people for smoking in public places and register electricity connections with Power Development Department.
“When Sarpanchs tried to do this, they were ridiculed and abused by people,” he said, adding, “the institution of PRIs has been degraded and Panchayat representatives treated as second class citizens.”
He said that it now seemed that the Panchayats polls were held to create an army of corrupt people who would “earn money for officers and engineers” while they are at home.
“They were used for taking bribes for officers,” he said.
After hearing the detailed experience of the legislator, the Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmad Gurezi told the Lower House that he was “impressed” by the speech of the young legislator. (KNS)