Srinagar– G.M. Shaheen, President of the Janta Dal United (JDU), Jammu and Kashmir, has strongly appealed to the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Lalan Singh, to significantly enhance financial allocations and ensure the timely release of funds for the Panchayati Raj system in the Union Territory.
Emphasising the central role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in democratic decentralisation and inclusive governance, Mr. Shaheen stated that these constitutionally mandated bodies form the backbone of grassroots democracy. He warned that inadequate fiscal empowerment has severely limited their effectiveness, thereby weakening participatory decision-making, accountable governance, and village-level development.
Highlighting the unique developmental, geographical, and administrative challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Shaheen asserted that Panchayats in the region require special financial support, greater functional autonomy, and stronger institutional capacity to deliver tangible outcomes at the grassroots. He stressed that enhanced funding is critical for infrastructure development, livelihood generation, social welfare delivery, and the effective implementation of centrally sponsored and locally designed schemes.
Mr. Shaheen further underlined that empowering Panchayats is not merely an administrative requirement but a democratic imperative. Well-funded and empowered PRIs, he said, are essential for restoring public confidence in governance, ensuring transparency, and bridging the gap between the administration and the people.
Reiterating its unwavering commitment to the principles of grassroots democracy, the Janta Dal United urged the Union Government to take immediate and concrete steps to transform Panchayati Raj Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir into genuinely empowered, responsive, and development-driven bodies.
