Centre plans to give insurance cover of Rs 4 lakh each to 40k panch, sarpanch in J&K

NEW DELHI: The Centre is contemplating an insurance cover of Rs 4 lakh each for all sarpanches and panchs in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the constant terror threat they face, officials said on Thursday. The move is aimed at instilling a sense of security among the nearly 40,000 representatives of local self-governments as they utilise funds received directly from the Centre, to take up development and welfare initiatives at the grassroot level.
The Modi government also intends to undertake an exercise to educate the panchayat representatives in J&K regarding Central schemes as well as a host of Central laws that have become applicable to Jammu & Kashmir in the wake of abrogation of Article 370.
“Many of the lower-rung elected representatives are not aware of the benefits of Central laws dealing with child marriage, right to education etc. We are formulating a training/familiarisation module for the sarpanches and panchs with the help of the panchayati raj ministry, to have them versed with Central legislations that were earlier not applicable to J&K as well as flagship Central schemes so that they can oversee their implementation in their respective areas. The local panchayati raj machinery will help with the exercise,” said a senior officer.
The proposal to grant all sarpanches/panchs an insurance cover of Rs 4 lakh each is an improvement upon the Rs 2 lakh cover demanded by a delegation of panchayat representatives during their meeting with home minister Amit Shah here recently.