Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir administration today constituted a high-level committee to draw a roadmap and detailed schedule for holding the first-ever District Development Council (DDC) polls in the Union Territory.
DDC polls will be held for the first time in J&K UT after 1947 and the process will complete the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the UT. Elections for Panchayats and Blocks Development Councils (BDCs) have already been held.
According to an order issued by General Administration Department (GAD), the panel headed by Principal Secretary Home shall comprise of Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police (CID), Administrative Secretary. Rural Development and Panchayat, Divisional Commissioners, representative of Transport Department and any other member co-opted by the panel.
“The panel shall draw its roadmap on the basis of two divisional level committees and taking into consideration various requirements including security, logistics, personnel, equipment, etc,” read an official order.
Pertinently, the Central government has amended Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act-1989 for establishing elected District Development Councils in J&K. J&K LG Manoj Sinha recently said that governance will be taken to the doorsteps of the people of J&K and for that, DDC elections are a must.
In many districts, concerned Deputy Commissioners have already sought feedback from the ground level officers by October 25 for completing formalities regarding DDC Polls.
-ARK
