Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyay has welcomed the Uttarakhand State’s own Panchayati Raj Act drafted by the State Government. In a statement released to the media, Upadhyay stated that during the tenure of the first elected Government led by Congress after creation of Uttarakhand State, various important decisions were taken towards financially strengthening the Panchayat institution.
These decisions which were taken and implemented included provision of allowance for Panchayat representatives, State minister status for heads of district Panchayats, formation of block development fund and provisioning funds for block Panchayats through State finance. During the tenure of the BJP led State Government from 2007 to 2012, there was lack of communication between Panchayat representatives and the State Government. However, in the term of the present Congress-led government, effort has been initiated in the State towards financial strengthening and empowerment of the Panchayat by making the State’s own Panchayati Raj Act for which chief minister Harish Rawat and Panchayat minister were especially thanked by the PCC chief.
Upadhyay further pointed out that he had earlier requested the state government to table the State’s own Panchayati Raj Act in this budget session of the Vidhan Sabha underway. Welcoming the positive response of the State Government to his request, the PCC chief said that the Congress party appreciates this development.