Union Cabinet approves adoption of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act

The move will help establish all the three tiers of grassroot level democracy like in other parts of the country, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar at a Cabinet briefing.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the adoption of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.

Briefing the press after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the move will help establish all the three tiers of grassroots-level democracy in Jammu and Kashmir like in other parts of the country.

“The three-tier system was not there in Kashmir before. They did not have the opportunity to elect their local representatives. This step redeems the promise made by PM Modi in Kashmir, and Home minister in Parliament,” said Javadekar.

“Now, there will be early elections, and the power to manage local bodies will go to the people. Locally elected representatives will be able to do district and block level planning and implement welfare schemes.”

The promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jammu and Kashmir and Home minister Amit Shah in Parliament now stands redeemed, he said.

This will help the people of Jammu and Kashmir elect their representatives at the village, block and district levels, he said.

According to the minister, the process for local body polls would start soon.