Mandeep Kaur asks officers to make planning process at Panchayat level more comprehensive, holistic

JAMMU : Emphasizing strengthening of institutions of Zila Parishad, Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mandeep Kaur, today asked the officers to make the planning process at Panchayat level more comprehensive and holistic.

Addressing a meeting held with ADDCs and HoDs of the department, Mandeep Kaur said that their role has increased manifold after the establishment of Panchayats in the UT. “Now, ADDCs are designated as CEOs of DDC Council. It must also be borne in mind that DDCs are not just restricted to District levels but their role extends to block as well as panchayat level” she asserted. Additionally, ADDCs are also monitoring several schemes of the department, she added.

She asked the ADDCs to expand the horizons of GPDP by achieving the total convergence across all departments at the Panchayat level, adding that the plan should be comprehensive and based on participatory process involving Gram Sabha to ensure better efficiency. It was also stated that GPDP is the best platform to reflect the development issues, perceived needs and priorities of the community including that of the marginalized sections.

Moreover, Mandeep Kaur even laid the vision of the department with the ADDCs, emphasising that there’s a need to develop good framework to ensure the development of Panchayats and decentralisation of powers.

She added that for strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions, a committee will be set up to plug gaps in the Panchayati Raj Act and bring more clarity in the PR rules defining roles and responsibility of CEOs of District Development Councils. To achieve this end, the institutions and structures of ADDCs in other states should also be reviewed, she added.

During the interaction, ADDCs highlighted various issues including shortage of staff.