Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says, his government is committed to strengthen the democratic institutions at all levels.

It will empower people to take decisions on development front by themselves and Panchayat Elections would be important turn around in this direction. He said that the transfer of power to public representatives will also ensure proper and justified spending of allocations and creation of required public assets.

The Chief Minister was addressing a public gathering at Bagga, Mahore, a remote and far off mountainous area after inaugurating a power station at village Sarh in Reasi district of Jammu Division. He said the Micro Planning of development and implementation of schemes at Panchayat level could be better performed by the Panchs and Sarpanchs instead of the officers at the Secretariat level.

Omar said that government intends to hold non-party Panchayat elections from January 2011 and laid stress on large scale participation of people to elect the right candidates as their representatives.