Govt defines rolesof Halqa Panchayat, DDC, BDC

SRINAGAR: In a major development, the government has announced roles and functions of Halqa Panchayat and District Development Council in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj, Act 1989 provides for the constitutions of Halqa Panchayats, Block Development Councils (BDC) and the District Planning and Development Boards and matters concerned therewith.
Whereas, the District Development Council (DDC) have been existent in Jammu and Kashmir before the 2020 elections in the form of District Planning and Development Boards, but their members were not elected and rather selected by the state government of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The first DDC elections in the history of Jammu and Kashmir were held in November 2020.
As per the document, accessed by TNN, “The Halqa panchayats shall be responsible for the overall development of the village and play a key role in providing basic services vital for the health and well-being of rural people, like, drinking water , sanitation etc”.
Further, Halqa Panchayat shall prepare the plans of all schemes in accordance with the provisions contained in the guidelines of the schemes and instructions issued by the Government of India and State Government from time to time.
Also, the Halqa Panchayat shall plan and implement all Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the Halqa Panchayat which are in operation or to be launched by the Government of India, as the case may be shall also be the responsibility of the Panchayats.
As per the document, the Halqa Panchayat has been asked to prepare annual plans for the development of the Panchayat area in general and separately under all schemes/programmes as per the targets assigned by the District Planning and Development Board (DP&DB).
The Halqa Panchayat has also been tasked to prepare an annual budget, providing reliefs in natural calamities, Removal of encroachments on public properties, organizing voluntary labour and contribution for community works.
“To maintain essential statistics of the villages, identification of beneficiaries for all beneficiary oriented programmes/schemes, repair/maintenance/upkeep of all government assets, supervision and inspection of all primarily level institutions like primary schools, primary health centers, primary veterinary centers / veterinary dispensaries, artificial semination centres, first aid centers etc”, reads the general function of Halqa Panchayat.
Further, Halqa Panchayat have been asked to act as Grievance Redressal Forum for the Halqa Panchayat, to undertake constructions from Halqa Panchayat fund (own resources) within the area of the Halqa Panchayat and to undertake awareness generation and mobilization of community for all government priority areas like sanitation, renewable energy, sex ratio improvement, skill development, water conservation, waste to energy financial inclusion etc as prescribed from time to time.
Also as per the document, the Halqa Panchayat have been asked to carry specific functions with regard to various departments some of which includes Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Forest/Social Forestry, Tourism, Public Works (R&B Department) and Revenue Department.
Regarding the Rural Development Department, Halqa Panchayat has given the role of Cleaning and preservation of public roads, drains, bathing ghats, tanks, wells, ponds and other public places and establishment and maintenance of burial and cremation grounds. It includes MGNREGA, Rural Sanitation, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and IWMP.
“In order to establish three tier Panchayat Raj mechanism as mandated under 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 and for effective functioning of these District Development Councils, a comprehensive guidelines depicting roles & responsibilities need to be issued so that proper synergy between Panchayat, Block & District Panchayat is ensured”, reads the functions and duties of DDC’s.
“It shall be the duty of the District Development Council to meet the requirements of area in respect of the matters contained in this Schedule and also prepare a plan of activity in respect of inter Block Panchayat areas/matters subject to availability of funds under various schemes”, it reads.
Some of the functions and duties of DDC’s are the promotion of measures to increase agricultural and horticulture production, establishment and maintenance of veterinary hospitals, first-aid centres and mobile veterinary dispensaries, promotion of rural and cottage industries.
It also includes, “Construction and maintenance of district roads and culverts, causeways and bridges (excluding Union territory Highways and village roads), promotion of social welfare programmes, including welfare of the handicapped, mentally retarded and destitute, promotion of educational, economic, social, cultural, and other interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes”.
With regard to the roles and responsibilities of BDC, it reads, “Compilation of all Panchayat level plans and their timely submission to District Planning and Development Board for integration with District Plan”.
“Block Development Council shall have the powers to acquire, hold or dispose of property and enter into a contract in accordance with the rules in force. BDC shall oversee the preparation and integration of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) within their area of jurisdiction within the stipulated time”, it reads.

Updated On 3/30/2022 11:46:59 AM