Shah nod to 5 key demands: Jammu panches

Jammu, September 5

The All-Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), a body of elected sarpanches and panches, today claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had agreed to their five key demands, including extending the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir and an insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh per panchayat member.

The body announced that sarpanches and panches, in consultation with all stakeholders, would work for strengthening the peace process in the Kashmir valley. “The situation has normalised to a large extent. We have decided to work towards strengthening peace and harmony in  the Valley,” said Anil Sharma, the AJKPC state president. He had led a 25-member delegation to meet the Union Home Minister in New Delhi on September 3.

Sharma said: “We demanded complete implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments in the state to empower grassroots-level institutions.The Union Home Minister agreed, saying it would be done from  November 1”. 

He said the delegation requested Rs 1 crore per annum to each panchayat for big developmental initiatives. “This too was accepted. We were told a sum of Rs 3,000 crore would be released for panchayats in addition to Rs 3,700 crore announced under 14th Finance Commission,” Sharma claimed, adding, “the Union Home Minister assured the delegation that at least four youths would be provided government jobs in every village on merit and in consultation with panchayats”. 

The AJKPC leader also said the Union Home Ministry had agreed to clear Rs 700 crore liabilities under MGNREGA within two months. 

OUTCOME OF SEPT 3 MEETING  

• Implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments in toto 
• Insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh for every panchayat member
• Rs 1 cr per annum to each panchayat for big initiatives
• Govt job for four youths in every village on merit 
• Rs 700 cr liabilities under MGNREGA to be cleared