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About Us
Rural Development Department in fact attains the present stature courtesy
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir State. Initially
during the regime of Maharaja Hari Singh, PRIs in a modest way were
introduced in the State and several powers also bestowed on them for
raising of taxes and non-taxes besides funding for addressing the
infrastructural needs of the rural community.
With the country having attained independence and a democratic order
ushered in, PRIs in the State of Jammu and Kashmir came to the fore front
for shouldering the massive responsibility of building rural
infrastructure by way of funds apportioned to them by the State Government
as also on the basis of the various taxes and revenues raised for
replenishment of the State’s own resources for creating durable community
infrastructure.
Synergy between different departments also was working for the upliftment
through this medium under the aegis of Panchayati Raj and extension work
also massively carried out through Panchayats in conjunction with
different line Departments for popularising various technologies and
scientific tools for bringing about socio-economic transformation of the
rural society.
Panchayats adalats were also set up for resolution of local disputes of
criminal and civil character by compromise, consensus and reconciliation.
J&K Panchayati Raj Act 1989 was brought in place by which three tier
Panchayati Raj system at Halqa, Block and District level, was prescribed
as a step forward for de-centralisation of the planning process and
carrying out various developmental activities for rural upliftment through
participatory management process.
In spite of the prevalence of adverse security scenario in Jammu and
Kashmir State, elections for the PRIs were held in the year 2001 and
tangible steps taken for empowering the Panchayats for their involvement
on wholesome basis in the entire development process as also for looking
after various subjects transferred to them charged with the responsibility
of rendering services to the rural society.
Rural Development Department in Jammu and Kashmir State infact has come of
age through the Panchayati Raj route and has, for last more than two
decades, been involved in the implementation of the various Centrally
sponsored schemes and the schemes having been carved out by the State
government for upliftment of the rural society.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Sampooran Gramin
Rozgar Yojna (SGRY), Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY), Indira
Awas Yojna (IAY), Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP –Haryali)
and host of other Centrally sponsored schemes are presently being looked
after through Rural Dev.Deptt. by which rural infrastructure has been
greatly strengthened and wage employment to poor and down-trodden strata
of the society afforded at their doorstep. Efforts on sustained basis have
been made to eradicate poverty from rural life and provide means of
livelihood o the rural poor masses.
Total Sanitation Campaign has also been launched by Rural Dev.Deptt. in
the pursuit to bring about a real revolution in village life providing
unpolluted living environment. Provision of individual household latrines,
community latrines, institutional latrines, women complexes and Rural
Sanitation Marts are being attempted through this programme, which is
being implemented in a mission mode manner and aims at to lift the society
to the new heights of the glory.
Rural Development Department further has been encompassing various other
development programmes like BADP, MPLAD and CDF to ensure providing
durable infrastructure with better quality at a low cost to the public
besides providing wage employment.
With a view to give boost to the various activities in the Panchayati Raj,
halqa Panchayats are being re-organised by which the number of Panchayats
is likely to go up to 4000 from 2700. This would provide homogeneous,
viable and easily manageable units of governance to the Panchayats
ensuring better dividends to public.
The community empowerment is another area which has been gaining
considerable attention. A massive programme on this account has been
chalked out which besides uplifting the level of comprehension of PRIs
would sensitise the officials of Rural Dev.Deptt. and other line
Departments for raising their level of commitment, understanding, skill
and technology for more positive application of the schemes with rich
dividends.
The all India pattern of DRDA Administration has also been launched in the
State so as to provide skill and know-how to the PRIs enabling them to
shoulder various responsibilities gainfully with utmost public interest
and better output insight.
The Rural Development Development and Pancchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir
State thus in the present context emerges to be the sole movement destined
to change the face of the rural society.
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Jammu & Kashmir
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