LG Murmu Announces Security Cover, Honorarium For BDC Chairpersons

Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu on Tuesday announced honorarium for the Chairpersons of Block Development Councils (BDC) across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lt. Governor said that the honorarium to be given to the BDC Chairpersons would be among the highest in the country. Further, they shall be given their due protocol as per warrant of precedence. Requisite security arrangements shall be put in place for the Chairpersons on the basis of threat perceptions, he added.
The Lt. Governor made these announcements after inaugurating two-day Training Programme for the Chairpersons of BDCs at Convention Centre here on Tuesday. The training programme was organized to make the participants understand their responsibilities while discharging their duties effectively.
During his address, the Lt. Governor observed that the people of J&K have been truly empowered with the coming-up of elected Panchayats and Block Development Councils.
He said the elected representatives have a great opportunity to serve the people and make them aware about their rights and responsibilities. He advised the participants to consider this training programme as a session of experience sharing and learning.
The Lt. Governor further announced that the District Planning and Development Boards shall be constituted for decentralized planning and development. Besides, Zila Parishads elections shall also be conducted in due course of time. With this, the 3-tier structure of Panchayati Raj system will be completed, he added.
The Lt. Governor observed that the promotion and development of Panchayati Raj system is an instrument of vigorous local self government, to secure the effective participation of people in the decision making process and for overseeing the implementation of developmental programmes under various schemes.
“Panchayats in J&K have had a glorious history and the very first initiative on strengthening the grass root institution was taken in 1935 with the promulgation of the Jammu and Kashmir Village Panchayat Regulation. J&K took a step forward by passing J&K Village Panchayat Act, 1958, before the Panchayat Raj system could be introduced in the whole country, which was replaced by J&K Panchayati Raj Act 1989 which aimed to have sound institutional framework in the matter of self governance”, the Lt. Governor said.