“Funds released” | Guv vindicates TNN report
TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/12/2019 11:51:36 AM
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JAMMU: Governor Satya Pal Malik today said that funds for panchayats have been “released by the Government of India (GoI)” and that the newly state elected sarpanches and panches of the state would “soon get them” to utilize for development works at the grass roots level.
Pertinently, The News Now, in its January 11 edition with heading “Centre releases funds for panchayats”, had exclusively reported that the Government of India had released funds of panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir under 14th Finance Commission.
“The first installment of the 14th Finance Commission has been cleared by the Government of India (GoI) and the state government is likely to receive the funds very shortly within days,” reliable sources had told The News Now.
Governor, Satya Pal Malik, while addressing the sarpanchs and panchs at the jam packed Gulshan Ground, Jammu, today said, “The funds for the panchayats have been released” by the central government and the state would soon get them.
“The funds have been cleared and you (sarpanchs and panchs) would soon get them through secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Sheetal Nanda,” the Governor said while adding, “Utilize the properly for development”.
The Governor also assured full co-operation to the sarpanchs and panchs in undertaking development works in their respective wards and fulfilling the people’s aspirations.
Funds over Rs 400 crore had been lying pending since 2016-17 with the central government under the 14th Finance Commission out of which around 50% have been released by the Center”, sources had informed.
“The funds have been released by the central government and it is expected that the state will receive them shortly,” Sheetal Nanda had told The News Now.
These mammoth funds for the panchayats (rural local bodies) of the state under the 14th Finance Commission were withheld by the central government as there were no elected panchayats (rural local bodies) in the state.
There are 4490 panchayats in the state with equal number of sarpanchs, while the total number of panchs in the state is 35,000.