Panchayat polls to be held on non-party basis: Minister

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 4

Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq has said the panchayat elections next month would be held on a non-party basis and all arrangements were being made to ensure a smooth process.

The minister said the basic purpose of holding the panchayat elections was to bring democracy on the doorstep of the people and empower them by giving them authority to take decisions with regard to the development of their villages.

Haq said the panchayat institutions would act as mini parliaments in rural areas where people would decide which development works were to be taken up. He said the institutions would play a vibrant role in the effective execution of developmental programmes by availing the full benefit of the flagships schemes of the Central and state governments.

He said the government was committed to empowering the Panchayat Raj institutions. He said after the elections, more funds would flow to the institutions for execution of various developmental schemes to change the socio-economic scenario of the rural areas.

Earlier, the minister interacted with people during a public meeting. People raised with the minister the issues relating to ration, power and water supply, roads, irrigation, renovation of lanes and drains and healthcare.

The minister gave a patient hearing to the delegations and passed on-the-spot directions for redress of their problems.