JAMMU, Oct 20: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the All India Panchayat Parishad (AIPP) organised a welcome-cum-reception programme for Dr Kuldeep Sharma, newly appointed North India Prabhari and National General Secretary, at Rehari Colony, Jammu.
The programme was organised by Pt. R.C. Sharma, General Secretary (Administration), AIPP J&K. Former MLA, advocate and Chairman of Jammu Province Bachao Manch, Ashok Sharma, attended as the Chief Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Ashok Sharma welcomed Dr Kuldeep Sharma and appreciated his longstanding commitment to social service and public welfare. He urged members and well-wishers to support Dr Sharma in strengthening grassroots democracy and advancing the interests of rural communities. He emphasised that empowering local democratic institutions was essential to ensuring effective governance, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Dr Kuldeep Sharma expressed gratitude to AIPP National President Ashok Jadon and Chief General Secretary S.S. Vijay Mishra for entrusting him with the responsibility of North India Prabhari with immediate effect. His jurisdiction includes Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Haryana.
He also thanked AIPP Vice President Jugal Kishore Gupta for his support and encouragement. Describing his appointment as both an honour and a responsibility, Dr Sharma pledged to work with dedication and integrity to strengthen the organisation and address the concerns of rural communities.
Emphasising the importance of unity, Dr Sharma appealed to members of the Jammu and Kashmir unit to rise above differences and work collectively towards building a stronger, inclusive and people-oriented organisation.
He also urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take timely steps towards holding elections to Panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Sharma said elected local bodies were essential for meaningful democracy, participatory governance, transparency and accountability. Their restoration, he added, would enable people to participate directly in decisions affecting their villages, towns and neighbourhoods.
The programme reaffirmed AIPP’s commitment to strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions, promoting democratic decentralisation and advancing inclusive development across the region.