Question : Elections for Block Development Council

(a) whether election for Block Development Council (BDC) to elect Chairperson was held recently in Jammu and Kashmir;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether these chairpersons of BDC are elected by Sarpanches and Panches of the respective blocks;

(d) if so, whether it is a fact that vacancies in Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir are more than 50 per cent and even in some districts, 90 per cent BDC voters are missing;

(e) if so, the rationale behind holding elections without voters; and

(f) the district-wise outcome of the vote and steps taken to fill the vacant posts of BDC voters?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) & (b) : As per the information furnished by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, elections were held on 24th of October, 2019 in the erstwhile State of J&K for 307 positions (out of 316 positions) of Chairpersons of Block Development Councils (BDCs) in accordance with the provisions of the J&K Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 1989. The District/Block-wise details of the elected Chairpersons of the Block Development Councils are available in http://www.ceojammukashmir.nic.in/pdf/BDC_2019/winner.pdf.
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LS.US.Q.NO. 285 FOR 19.11.2019
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) & (e): No Sir, The filled positions in the electorate for Block Development Councils is 67.4%, except in the Pulwama district. In order to strengthen the grass root level democracy, implementation of Schemes transferred to the PRIs, ensuring the people-centric planning and involving the people of rural areas in the decision making, it became imperative to conduct the elections to the 2nd tier i.e. Chairpersons of the BDCs for constitution of the Block Development Councils.

(f): The district-wise details of voter turnout are given in Annexure. The Govt. of J&K has intimated about requesting the Election Authority for initiating the process for holding of the elections to the vacancies of Panch(s)/ Sarpanch (S).

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ANNEXURE
LS.US. Q.NO. 285 FOR 19.11.2019

VOTERS TURNOUT
S.No. District Votes Polled (Close of Poll)
1. Anantnag 90.5
2. Bandipora 97.6
3. Baramulla 97.1
4. Budgam 94.9
5. Doda 99.2
6. Ganderbal 95.1
7. Jammu 99.5
8. Kargil 98.3
9. Kathua 99.4
10. Kishtwar 99.5
11. Kulgam 93.9
12. Kupwara 95.9
13.. Leh 97.3
14. Poonch 99.3
15. Pulwama 86.2
16. Rajouri 99.5
17. Ramban 99.2
18. Reasi 99.7
19. Samba 99.6
20. Shopian 85.3
21. Srinagar 100.0
22. Udhampur 99.4
Total 98.3

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