STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday declared that elaborate arrangements would be made by LS Secretariat for capacity-building programmes for representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. “Properly trained representatives would be able to work professionally which would ultimately make a qualitative change in the lives of the people”, the Lok Sabha Speaker said while inaugurating 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.
Birla said that he would suggest to the Parliamentary Standing Committees to undertake regular Study Visits to the far flung areas of the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to understand the ground realities and possible solutions for mitigation of grievances of the local people.
The programme was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha; Union Minister of State for Ministries of Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel; Union Minister of State, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale; Union Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Annpurna Devi; Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Member of Parliament from Srinagar, former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Nirmal Kumar Singh, Members of Parliament and other eminent dignitaries.
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 lauded the developments in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the UT is on the path of peace, progress and development. The Speaker observed that collective and coordinated efforts by democratic institutions at the grass-root level would take the fruits of development to the last man standing in the row. He emphasized that democratic institutions need to fulfill their responsibilities as agents of development to make the country, including the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Aatmanirbhar.
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. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha also addressed the gathering.
Secretary General, Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh, presented the vote of thanks.
Later, three panel discussions were held on (i) Indian Parliament and Grass Root level Institutions: Potential and Challenges – Stepping stone towards leadership, (ii) Leadership of Panchayat: Social Change, Economic Development and Empowerment of women in rural areas, and (iii) Role of Panchayats on promotion of Tourism, Culture and Handicrafts in Jammu & Kashmir. During these panel discussions, the delegates shared their experiences and ideas to fine tune their work in their respective areas.
Ramprit Mandal, Member of Parliament and Baseer Ahmad Khan Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir delivered the valedictory address.