DDC member boycotts District Capex Budget meeting

Jammu, July 10: General Secretary of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee and District Development Council (DDC) member Suchetgarh, Taranjit Singh Tony Wednesday boycotted the District Capex budget meeting convened at the DC office in Jammu, alleging an “unauthorized deduction of Rs 38 lakhs from his allocated annual funds out of Rs 71.25 lakhs.”

Following the meeting, Tony stated, “The government's own directives require DDC members to actively participate in the formulation of development plans through Block Development Offices. However, certain BDOs have chosen to disregard these directives, sidelining the voices of elected representatives.”

Highlighting the pivotal role of DDCs in the absence of elected Panchayats, Corporations, and Legislative Assembly, he asserted, “The DDC stands as the sole elected body in Jammu & Kashmir, apart from MPs, where citizens turn for resolution of their civic issues.”

“The DDCs are the last bastion of democratic representation in Jammu & Kashmir. It is our duty to safeguard the interests of the people against administrative overreach and corruption,” he added. Tony demanded the “immediate restitution of his development funds up to July 15.”

Tony said, “A unanimous resolution has been adopted by all DDC members, urging the administration to refund the deducted development funds.”

The meeting has been adjourned until July 15 for the finalization of the capex budget.

He also emphasized that Block Development Officers (BDOs) should return to their respective DDCs to finalize development plans in accordance with government directives.

He also appealed to the Commissioner Secretary RDD, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, to convene special meetings involving all departments under the purview of the DDC that have not been actively participating in the formulation of their plans according to the demands of the people in their respective DDCs.