Day 5: Back to Village campaign in full swing across Kashmir districts
Gram Sabhas, public interactions held; issues of public importance discussed
SRINAGAR, JUNE 24: The Day-5 of “Back to Village” programme commenced with great enthusiasm across Kashmir and the public who is taking keen interest in this ambitious programme.
People raised various issues with regard to the development of the villages with the officers seeking their intervention for early redressal.
North Kashmir remained abuzz with a slew of activities like extensive public interactions, registering of grievances of people about the implementation of various schemes, inspection of public utilities, holding of awareness camps and other allied activities.
Gram Sabhas were held at all the Panchayats of the Bandipora district with special Gram Sabhas organised for female folk. This was followed by the formation of social audit committees that included officers of the state government, Panchayat Raj Institution and prominent citizens of the area.
Earlier, officers of the state government met the PRI members as well as the prominent citizens of the district and gave a patient hearing to their grievances. The officers also discussed the developmental plan of the panchayat with PRI members and locals.
The officers also inaugurated several assets created by the Department of Rural Development Department including playfields, road, lanes, titled paths and also laid the foundation stone of several works.
Sports activities were also carried out in Panchayats including cricket, volleyball and football. Matches were inaugurated by visiting officers and the activities witnessed huge participation by the youth of the villages.
In Baramulla, District Development Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo paid visit to the Pattan area where he carried out several developmental activities thereby kick-starting the 3rd phase of the week-long programme.
At Hamray, DDC laid the foundation stone of a public toilet under the centrally sponsored Swachh Bharat Mission (G). The facility shall be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 0.95 lakh. He also kick-started the distribution drive of smart bags among the school children. Under the drive which has been initiated by the Education Department, about 750 smart bags shall be distributed among students of Class I and Class II belonging to educational zone Pattan. It was informed that such distribution drives shall also be launched in other educational zones of the district.
At Bachoo Village, Dr Itoo inaugurated a bridge completed at an estimated cost of Rs 25.80 lakh. Similarly, at Ahmadpora, DDC inaugurated a link road that was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh. He also laid the foundation stone of a public park, to be setup at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50 lakh under the convergence plan.
Meanwhile at Panzipora in Sangrama Block, Special Secretary Tourism, Mohammad Akbar Wani visited various places including Government Boys High School and observed the school need to be renovated at an earliest. He said that under the program ‘Back to village’ we understood various problems and issues of the people which otherwise were not possible to understand while sitting in the secretariat office.
In Kupwara, Secretary Agriculture, Manzoor Ahmad Lone held an interactive session in Panchayat Halqa Sogam-B where large gathering of the people interacted with him and apprised him about several issues being faced by them in their respective areas.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Anshul Garg also toured Moghul Pora Panchayat Halqa and other far-flung Panchayat Halqas of the district to check the pace of the program and got first-hand appraisal of the issues.
SDM accompanied by CDPO Tangdar and Teethwaal, Fayaz Ahmad visited several Panchayat Halqas which includes Tangdar A, Tangdar B, Diladar and various others.
In Handwara Sub Division, public meetings and field visits by designated Gazetted officers were held in various Panchayat halqas of Kralgund of Langate block, Rajwar block, Ramhal and other various blocks of the Sub Division.
At Kralgund Member J&K Special Tribunal Kashmir Bench, Bashir Ahmad Wani, educated the people about the objective and benefits of flagship programmes.
At Shathgound Langate the designated officer inspected various spots including Hardakhir Nalla.
Meanwhile, Director Industries and Commerce visited Sub District Hospital, Educational institutions, Aganwari and Handicraft Centres, in Panchayat Halqa Tangdar A.
The third phase of the ‘Back to Village’ programme commenced across the South Kashmir districts of Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Anantnag wherein designated officers reached out to people in their panchayat halqas under the ambitious initiative of the government to address people’s grievances and ensuring good governance at the grassroots.
In Kulgam, 55 Panchayat halqas were covered during which people were seen providing feedback to the visiting officers to ensure effective implementation of developmental schemes and highlight their issues and grievances.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani said the administration was taking every possible step to ensure that the programme is held in a hassle-free manner.
In Pulwama, the day marked conduct of Gram Sabhas and awareness camps besides field inspections by visiting officers in the district under the ambitious outreach programme.
Designated officers visited different halqas of the district to assess the developmental demands of people for socio-economic transformation of rural areas.
Director General Planning Shahzada Bilal visited Kunibal area of Pampore to take a first-hand appraisal of grievances of the general public.
Director Rural Development Department Qazi Sarwar also visited Meeg village to take stock of developmental works there.
ADC Tral Shabir Ahmed Raina visited different halqas of Tral to take stock of functioning of the Anagwandi centres, mid day meal scheme and developmental works in the areas.
During the visit, people projected various demands like upgradation of health infra, veterinary centres besides strengthening Irrigation, PDD and PHE infrastructure in these villages.
In Shopian, on the fifth day of the outreach programme, designated gazetted officers today conducted Gram Sabhas and interaction programmes in 32 Panchayat Halqas of the district.
Dr Hafiz Shah, Director Floricultural, visiting Officer Panchayat Halqa Heerpora conducted interaction programme in which a large number of people participated.
In other halqas of the district, the visiting officers inspected various ongoing works and also visited education institutions, healthcare centres, Anganwadi centres and other offices.
In Anantnag, Gram Sabhas and public interaction programmes were held in 134 Halqas of Anantnag of district.
Special Secretary to Chief Secretary Arshid Ayoub visited Kadpora village and interacted with the people to assess their developmental aspirations and listen to their issues and demands.
During the day-long activities, visiting officers went to their respective Halqas and interacted with the public, PRI members, civil society members, prominent citizens, members of Auqaf Committees, Students and other concerned.
The fifth day of ‘Back to Village’ programme saw an overwhelming participation of people in the Gram Sabhas and the interactive sessions, held in various panchayat halqas across the three districts of Central Kashmir.
In Srinagar, Back to Village programme began with proceedings in five new Panchayat halqas of Nowgam-A of Srinagar block, Soiteng and Khonmoh-C of Khonmoh block, and Theed-A and Khimber of Harwan block.
In all the five Panchayat halqas the administrators were accompanied by officers from concerned line departments, so as to ensure thorough understanding and recording of developmental concerns raised during the programme.
Some of the main concerns raised and recorded during the programme in these halqas included access to better healthcare and education facilities, upgraded drainage and irrigation projects, macadamisation of roads, better transport facility and quality supply of essential services like power and potable water.
In Budgam, as part of the Back to Village programme, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar visited Razwan Panchayat Halqa to take stock of issues facing the people.
Some of the main issues raised by public during the interactions included upgradation of school, better infrastructure of electricity, quality transport and health facilities, road upgradation and upgradation of local water supply scheme.
The DDC enquired about the department- wise activities/action plans of the panchayat.
Visiting Officer to the Village, Ravinder Kumar, Managing Director, J&K Infrastructure Company/ SIDCO also interacted with the people of the panchayat halqa.
In all blocks, distribution of sports kits and dustbins, inauguration of playfields was undertaken and many works executed under different Government schemes particularly of RDD, PHE, including Convergence works were either inaugurated for public use or foundation stone laid in presence of SDMs, Visiting Officers and BDOs.
In Ganderbal, on the fifth day of Back to Village programme, the visiting officers interacted with the representatives of PRI’s and public in 31 Panchayats and six blocks. The officials took a detailed appraisal of grievances and demands of people.
The officers at Gutlibagh village assessed the specific economic potential of the village and inspected schools, Aganwadi Centres and Health Centres in the area. In their interactions, people raised the demand of Panchayat Ghar, Health Sub-centre and HT Poles for the area.
In Panchayat Akhal-A, visiting officers inaugurated construction of link road with drain from the main road. The people demanded the construction of vital Akhal Bridge at the earliest.
In Barwalla Zone of Kangan, issues highlighted related to pension schemes, allocation of LT and HT wires, fencing and construction of compound wall and washroom at Middle School Barawalla. The visiting officers also visited Health Centre Barawalla where patients demanded the availability of medicine at Health Centre, proper electricity and sanitation facilities.
In block Lar, the visiting officers reviewed the skill development programs. The officials inspected various villages, schools and Health centres and assured people that the demands of adequate drinking water facilities, allocation of LT and HT poles and transformers would be addressed in time bound manner.
