Centre sanctions over Rs 400 crore for JK panchayats

To strengthen panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre will provide Rs 420 crore as untied funds, in addition to other schemes for carrying out development, Union minister Jairam Ramesh said here today.
"Each of the 4,200 panchayats in the state will get an amount of Rs 10 lakh as untied funds every year," the Union Rural Development Minister told reporters here, 15 kms from Srinagar.
Untied funds are meant for carrying out works of emergent nature which are normally not covered under the schemes decentralised at the district level. These funds are mainly allocated for filling up the missing gaps.

Ramesh said these funds will be in addition to the funds available to the panchayats through various schemes like MNREGA and IAY.
The Union minister said the funds, which will be provided within one month, have been sanctioned to "strengthen the gram panchayats in the state".