J&K to introduce widow for Panchayat Sector with dev schemes

New Delhi, Nov 28 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir Government will introduce a separate window "Panchayat Sector" with every relevant developmental scheme in the next fiscal to give more financial powers to the local bodies. For 2011-12 financial year, administrative departments concerned will ensure that the total expenditure incurred by departments and the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) were within limit of the approved budget allocation, an official release said here. "Starting with Financial Year 2012-13, a separate window titled -- Panchayat Sector -- with each of the relevant scheme of concerned Line Department will be opened. The guidelines also provides for auditing of the accounts of various tiers of PRIs by Examiner and Local Fund Audit Cell," it said. The state government issued guidelines covering various aspects relating to pay and allowance of the transferred staff, funds related to transferred functions, financial rules and directions, guidelines or decisions of the Government issued from time to time for the PRI. It also issued directions for utilisation of available budgetary provisions for the year 2011-12 and regulation of funds for the year 2012-13. The funds in the current fiscal will also not lapse and will be moved to civil account. The same will be released only after receipt of Utilisation Certificates (UCs), it said. The state Government had issued orders in September this year for devolution of functions and identification of activities to be carried out by each of the three tiers in PRI. Ministry of Home Affairs has also expressed its happiness over the devolution of powers to the Panchayti Raj institutions and said it is expected that the initiatives taken by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir would go a long way in strengthening the Institutions and the democratic set up in the state. The 17-phase Panchayat Elections in Jammu and Kashmir ended in June, 2011 and it recorded an average voting of 76.87 per cent.