One year after District Development Council elections, Srinagar Chairman seeks powers, security

Elected representatives complain of bureaucratic hurdles, exclusion in decision-making, non-budgetary powers and poor accommodation

One year after the first-ever District Development Council (DDC) elections in J&K, the elected representatives in Srinagar complain of bureaucratic hurdles, exclusion in the decision-making, non-budgetary powers and poor accommodation.

“I am separated from my family members since I won the elections because of the security threat. The administration has failed to provide a decent accommodation to a chairperson and his family till date,” DDC chairperson, Srinagar, Malik Aftab, told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.

Contesting in an election for the first time in December last, Mr. Aftab managed to win the Soiteng segment in Srinagar, which has 14 DDC constituencies. In February, he defeated the Gupkar alliance members to become Srinagar’s first DDC chairperson.