Imtiyaz Afzal Beigh
Sarpanch, Duroo, Baramulla Kashmir
It is true that elections to panchayats in Kashmir had ended people's isolation. People zealously participated in the elections in 2011. It created history that 85 per cent people exercised their franchise. But the enthusiasm has fizzled out as government has not devolved the power to panchayats.
The State Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 didn't fully empower people. We have been asking implementation of the national panchayatiraj act of 1993 in Jammu and Kashmir. On one side government crippled us and on the other side militants are killing us. Government has betrayed the aspiration of local people.