Srinagar, Aug 28 (IANS): Keeping to his promise of empowering elected village elders in Jammu and Kashmir before Eid-ul-Fitr Aug 31, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday announced the first installment of powers to sarpanchs and panchs across the state.

The village elders will now have direct powers to oversee the developmental works in their constituencies and take stock of the progress of national-level programmes being implemented here.

These powers will make the village and block-level administration directly answerable to the people as elected representatives will now decide developmental priorities in the villages.

In another significant development, Abdullah announced one-time amnesty for arrested stone pelters. "This is a one-time amnesty... The government has decided to withdraw cases against all those arrested since last year on charges of stone-pelting," the chief minister said.

The decision is seen as a goodwill gesture towards the local youth ahead of Eid. It is expected that scores of youth arrested on charges of stone-pelting would now be released to celebrate Eid with their families.