Panchayats basic pillars of democracy: Omar

JAMMU: Asserting that power necessarily brings responsibilities with it, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said panchayats are basic pillars of democracy and asked the newly-elected panchayat members to make public service the standard of their functioning.

Addressing sarpanches and panches of Billawar and Basholi Assembly constituencies in Kuthua district yesterday, the Chief Minister told them to come up to the expectations of the people and deliver efficiently.

"It is your prime responsibility to devote yourselves to the public cause. Voters have reposed highest faith and trust in you. Your success is in your befitting performance," he said and added that the success of Panchayati Raj lies in the sincere, honest and efficient functioning of the elected panchayat members.

The Chief Minister said that holding of elections to panchayats was a challenge which the Government successfully met and completed the poll process in a free and fair manner.

He said transfer of powers to panchayats is the exact goal of his Government.

"We want to make you powerful enough to perform your role beyond the rural development area," he said.

Omar said that in the sectors of social welfare, health, roads, communication and rural water supply panchayats have an important function to perform.

He appreciated the huge voter turnover in the elections and said that this indicated public faith in the democratic institutions in getting their day-to-day problems redressed.

He congratulated the voters for their large participation in the elections.