The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the adoption of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.
It also announced bonus for non-gazetted government employees
The move would help establish all the three tiers of grass roots level democracy like in other parts of the country, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar at a Cabinet briefing.
“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 the Prime Minister in Kashmir, and the Home Minister in Parliament,” he stated.
“Now, there will be early elections, and the power to manage the local bodies will go to people. Locally elected representatives will be able to do district and block level planning, and implement welfare schemes,” he noted.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration was working on the adaptation of other laws also. “There is a lot of homework to be done, but the principle has been established,” he added.
Bonus for Central staff
The Centre would immediately disburse bonuses worth ₹3,737 crore to over 30 lakh non-gazetted government employees as productivity and non-productivity linked bonuses. “This will put cash in people’s pockets on the eve of the festival season, and will improve consumption and demand”, the Minister observed.
“This was one major concern of the middle class and that has been made by the Union Cabinet today. The money will be distributed by Direct Benefit Transfer and will be completed within a week,” he added.