Day 6: ‘Back to Village’ continues to generate buzz across Kashmir
SRINAGAR, JUNE 25: The week-long ‘Back to Village’ programme continued on sixth consecutive day in Kashmir districts drawing an overwhelming response from the people with visiting officers reaching out far-off places to assess the developmental aspirations of the rural areas.
In Baramulla, despite inclement weather conditions, Special Secretary Law and Justice Manoj Kumar Pandit conducted Gram Sabha at Panchayat Halqa Bandiballa of block Wagoora in the district.
On the occasion, people apprised the Special Secretary about their issues and demands being confronted by them.
The programme was also held at Panchayat Halqas of Zaingeer, Tangmarg, Tujjar Shareef, Wagoora, Bijhama and other blocks of the district.
At Edipora-B in Tujjar Sharief Block, visiting officer Director Hospitality and Protocol, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, inaugurated development works of a playground in the area.
At Dangerpora-A in Zaingeer block Special Secretary PDD, Hashmat Ali Yatoo conducted a Gram Sabha and an awareness camp. This was followed by speech by students on ill-effects of drug addiction.
The Special Secretary PDD also laid foundation stone for renovation of Panchayat Ghar and ‘fencing of graveyard in the area. He also inaugurated a playground at Government Boys Higer Secondary School, Dangerpora.
Yatoo also conducted a Gram Mela in which tractors and other equipment were distributed among the beneficiaries by Agriculture and Horticulture Departments.
In Kupwara, Secretary Agriculture Production, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, conducted public interaction programme in Panchayat Halqa Sogam-B.
During the programme, the Secretary distributed aids to disabled persons, agricultural equipment, job cards, and RBA certificates among the beneficiaries and also dedicated paddy thrashing machines to the Panchayat Halqa.
Pertinently, the Secretary also visited several water sources of the area and asked the officers to take initiatives for the restoration of ponds, springs and other water bodies.
For better yield and to give boost to the Agriculture sector in the area, the Secretary directed the officers to check feasibility for establishing Seed Village for high-quality seed distribution among the farmers.
Officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, SDM Lolab, Director Command Area officer and other line department officers were also present on the occasion.
In other Panchayat Halqas of Lolab and Sogam, Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg interacted with people and listened to the grievances and feedback of locals on various development programmes.
While highlighting the importance of social audit programme in Panchayati Raj, the Deputy Commissioner said it will bridge the gap in pursuing common interests of the people of rural areas to improve their overall developmental aspects while facilitating the nominated panchayat members to keep a check on the development works.
Prime Minister’s message on Rain Water Harvesting was read out by the BDO Sogam and emphasis was laid to chalk out strategies for its proper harvest.
At Bohipora, Ghulma Rasool Mir, Under Secretary, Finance held an interactive session in where large gathering of the people interacted with him and apprised him about several issues being faced by them in their respective areas.
In other parts of the district including Kulangam-A, B, Chaugla-A, and other far-flung areas Gram Sabhas were held where participants were informed about several beneficiary schemes.
In Srinagar, the programme concluded in another five Panchayat halqas in the district taking the total number of halqas covered under the State-wide rural outreach initiative so far to 18.
Under the programme, public interactions were held in Nowgam-A of Srinagar block, Soiteng and Khonmoh-C of Khonmoh block and Theed-A and Khimber of Harwan block witnessed massive public response filled with enthusiasm and excitement.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary who has directed the designated administrators for unabridged recording of developmental concerns from all concerned halqas has assured of redressal of all genuine grievances raised at all halqas during the outreach programme.
In Budgam, District Development Commissioner Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today chaired a meeting to review the implementation of ‘Back to Village’ programme.
She instructed line Departments to make maximum coverage of beneficiaries under different schemes in the villages and make on- spot resolution of issues wherever possible.
Meanwhile, continuing with the outreach programme 84 Panchayat Halqas of Chadoora, Beerwah, Khag, Nagam, Sukhanag and Khansahib were covered wherein Gram Sabhas, Women Sabhas were held.
Ravinder Kumar, Managing Director, J&K Infrastructure Company/ SIDCO, who is Visiting Officer of panchayat halqa Razwan, interacted with the people and held deliberations on various developmental issues with the people and government functionaries.
He also presided over the Gram Sabha, Women Gram Sabha, and constitution of Social Audit Committee.
Inauguration of works like Shopping Complex, Fencing of graveyard, link road at Nagrad-Khah was also done by the Visiting Officer. Later on, he visited local institutions of ICDS, Education, and FCS&CA and inaugurated sports events in which school children and youth of the area participated.
In Sonpah, Beerwah, Syed Shabir Ahmad, Deputy Director Tourism, interacted with people and conducted mandated activities during his two-day stay in the village.
In Ganderbal, under the third phase, 95 Panchayats were covered during which a range of programmes including Gram Sabhas and inspections of public facilities in each of these panchayats were carried out by the designated officers.
During public interactions, people raised a multitude of issues.
ADDC Shafqat Iqbal during his visit to Shalbugh Panchayat Gram Sabha took stock of issues being faced by the people. The ADDC was accompanied by ACD Mohammad Ashraf, other functionaries of frontline departments and other visiting officers of ‘Back to Village’ programme.
During the programme exhaustive deliberations were held by the visiting officers and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI’s) with the locals.
Sports and cultural activities were also carried out in Panchayats which were inaugurated by visiting officers and the activities witnessed huge participation of the locals.
In Lar, Women Sabha was held to educate female folk about the importance of Self-Help Groups and various skill development programmes, besides other state and centrally sponsored schemes.
People in several villages across South Kashmir on Tuesday lauded the Government and district administration for reaching out to them under ‘Back to the Village’ programme—an ambitious flagship project of the government to address people’s grievances and ensuring good governance at the grassroots.
In several villages and Panchayat halqas of the South Kashmir, mammoth gatherings of people were seen—providing feedback to the visiting officers and other senior officials of the district.
In Kulgam: On day six today, under Phase III of the programme—nearly 55 Panchayat halqas were covered and feedback sought on various matters.
“This is a wonderful initiative by the governmnet. The Secretariat is moving out and reaching out to the far flung areas of the State and addressing our issues, which is highly commendable, “locals said during interaction with the officials at the Dardgund area of the district.
Deputy Commissioner, Kugam, Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani said that the programme is running smoothly and the administration was taking every possible step to ensure that the programme is held in a peaceful atmosphere in this district.
In Shopian: The 6th day saw huge participation and enthusiasm of people in 33 panchayats of the district, with visiting officers undertaking public meetings and inspections to assess status of public services available in these areas. People raised demands and issues concerning their areas and sought timely redressal of their grievances.
At Heerpora, DDC Shopian, Dr Owais Ahmed along with Dr. Ab Hafiz Shah, Director Floricultural, conducted interaction programme in which a large number of people participated.
People raised a number of issues concerning development of their areas with a candid expression of their expectations. It was noticed that there should be immediate construction of approach Road and bridge from Heerpora to Dachno where people are facing lot of problems due to unavailability of concrete road. While interacting with DDC, students of Higher Secondary School Heerpora demanded establishment of Science Laboratory, Library and Playground in the school.
Dr Owais also inspected various stalls Installed by different Government departments especially Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Floriculture, Social Welfare and Handicrafts to aware the people regarding various centre and state sponsored schemes at Mega Mela organised at Heerpora.
Meanwhile, in Aglar Litter, Director Finance, Reyaz Ahmad interacted with the people and took stock of the various ongoing developmental activities in the area.
The villagers projected various demands like drinking water, bridges, augmentation of PDD infra, construction of Panchayat Ghar, up gradation of PHC, subsidy on agriculture implements, repair of link roads, playgrounds, protection bunds besides benefits from other welfare schemes.
In Pulwama: The fifth day started with great enthusiasm and response from the public who took great interest in the activity and projection of their demands.
In the Bargam Village, Additional Deputy Commissioner Tral, Shabir Ahmed Raina visited various halqas in the sub district and listened to the various issues with regard to development of the villages along with the line officers of various departments seeking for early redressal of the demands and grievances projected by the villagers.
During the visit to the village, he inaugurated a bridge constructed by Rural Development Department which was a long pending demand of the people who were facing hardship in crossing the stream.
In Puhoo village of Pulwama, gas connections (LPG) were provided to eleven BPL families under Ujwala Youjna besides health department also carried out immunization program in Jawaharpora and Zizbal hamlets of district.
During the day- long program, the designated officers apprised people about various centrally and state sponsored schemes and urged people for maximum participation and enrolment for optimal benefit of people.
Major issues which marked the day in the district include awareness, inaugurations, plantation drives, issuance of Job cards and other certificates, augmentation of power supply and medi-care facilities, road connectivity, inclusion of left out beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat and other flagship programmes, infrastructure upgradation in respective villages.
The other Functions were also held in 29 designated halqas including Amlar, Padgampora, Lalpora,Puhoo, Ratnipora, Khasipora, Machama, Malangpora area of district where people participated in large numbers.
In Anantnag: Back to Village” programme continued in all the 134 Halqas of the five blocks namely Anantnag, Bijbehara, K – Pora, D – Pora and Pahalgam.
The designated officers, including the Director General Budgets J&K Mohammad Yaqoob Itoo and Director Finance Disaster Management Relief and Rehabilitations J&K Zahoor Ahmad Wani remained with public at their venues at halqa Munghal in block Anantnag and Halqa Akad in block K – Pora for the whole day and listened various demands and grievances of the public, answered their queries and explained them the aims and objectives of the said programme.
The demands raised include road connectivity, power, water, healthcare, education, banking facilities, establishing Nayabats, replacement of electric poles and wire with new ones, rationing and proper implementation of centrally sponsored & sate sponsored scheme
Various activities carried out today in all the 5 blocks of Anantnag district include conducting of Gram Sabhas for both men and women, constitution of Social Audit Committees, reading of PMs letter, exhibitions, cultural programmes with regard to Beti Bachaw Beti Padao, distribution of Job cards and free gas connections under PMs Ujwala Scheme, identification of beneficiaries under various centrally and state sponsored schemes and cleanliness drives.
