Srinagar, May 19: Former minister and ex-MLA Usman Majid on Tuesday alleged interference in grassroots development planning in Bandipora, accusing legislators of altering works approved through Gram Sabha consultations under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
In a statement issued here, Majid claimed that developmental works and priorities approved during Gram Sabha meetings under MGNREGA had allegedly been changed later through political intervention, sidelining public participation and local decision-making processes.
“The works proposed and approved by villagers during Gram Sabha meetings under MGNREGA are reportedly nowhere to be seen now. Instead, new works have allegedly been inserted and controlled through political interference,” Majid said.
He alleged that legislators were interfering in matters related to District Development Council (DDC), Block Development Council (BDC) and MGNREGA-linked developmental planning, which he said should be based on public consultation and village-level consensus.
Majid said that although elections for Panchs, Sarpanchs and BDCs have not yet been conducted, Gram Sabhas continue to serve as an important mechanism for identifying and prioritising developmental works in villages.
“Gram Sabhas are not ornamental exercises. They are the backbone of participatory democracy in rural governance,” he said, adding that altering or ignoring decisions taken during such meetings undermines public participation.
The former minister further alleged that development projects such as roads, drains, irrigation links, sanitation facilities and lanes were being influenced through political intervention rather than reflecting local needs identified by villagers.
He said such practices weaken transparency and accountability in governance and could lead to public distrust in democratic institutions. Majid also urged the administration to examine the process through which DDC, BDC and MGNREGA-related works were approved in Bandipora.
Calling for adherence to democratic norms and decentralised governance, he said developmental planning should remain people-centric and aligned with resolutions adopted through Gram Sabha consultations.
Majid said he would continue raising issues related to public participation and grassroots governance in the region.
There was no immediate response from the legislators or authorities mentioned in the allegations.
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