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Day 7: Massive participation of locals in Gram Sabhas, awareness campaigns across Kashmir

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‘Back to Village’ programme

Saurabh Bhagat holds public interactions in Budgam, distributes sports kits

SRINAGAR,  JUNE 26: The ongoing ‘’Back to Village” programmes today witnessed massive participation of locals in Gram Sabhas, Women Gram Sabhas, public interactions, sports activities, awareness campaigns and other related activities in Kashmir.

In Budgam, Commissioner Secretary, Labour and Employment, Saurabh Bhagat, held a public interaction session and listened to the demands and issues raised by the public at Shiekhpora Panchayat Halqa of Budgam.

DC Budgam, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar who was also present on the occasion, deliberated upon the activities that were taken in district Budgam under Back to Village Programme and spoke about the potential of the children of Budgam especially in education, sports activities and artistic acumen.

On the occasion, the locals of the Shiekpora and adjoining villages took up various issues including construction of over-bridge on the railway track, irrigation facilities, healthcare centre, adequate  portable drinking water, upgradation of primary school, upgradation of transmission lines, conduct of awareness camps, underground drainage system, public park and giving status of Model Village to Sheikhpora.

Heads of different departments also presented their department profiles and deliberated on various state and centrally sponsored schemes for the public welfare and development of village.

Later, Saurav Bhagat inaugurated the cricket match at Shiekpora Stadium and distributed sports kits, revenue extracts, PRCs and Income certificates among scores of beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, in Haripora Haran of Soibugh Block, Director, Command Area, Kashmir Muhammad Harun Malik as visiting officer held public interaction and other mandated activities.

Zahoor Ahmad Magray Personnel Officer, Directorate of School Education visited Gariend Khurudh Panchayat Halqa in Soibugh Block as visiting officer. All 16 Panchayat Halqas were visited today by officers in Soibugh block.

In Pakherpora Block, Visiting officer to Nagbal Yusmarg, Additional Secretary, GAD, Parvaiz Ahmad Raina, Deputy Director School Education, visiting officer Kanidajan, Ashiq Hussain Khanday and Muzamil Maqbool Beigh, Deputy Secretary PHE, I&FC visiting officer Pakharpora interacted with the people and held other activities. In this block, 12 panchayats were visited during the fourth phase of the ongoing Back to Village programme.

During the ongoing fourth phase, 13 panchayats in Budgam, 10 in Ratsun and 7 in Charishareef were also visited by the officers.

In Charisharief Block, the programme was led by Deputy Secretary, Public Works (R&B), Zahoor Ahmad Raina and Deputy Director Tourism Sarfaraz Ahmad,.

In all the panchayats, sports kits and dustbins were distributed and numerous development projects were also inaugurated.

In Ganderbal, Day 7 of the “Back to Village” program commenced with the inauguration of a sports ground and a cricket match in Halqa Gutli Bagh of the district.

The day started with the visit of Secretary Tribal Affairs, Abdul Majeed Bhat to Sonamarg. Secretary, on the occasion held public interactions with residents and listened to their grievances. He assured them that their genuine demands will be resolved on priority.

Meanwhile, ADDC Shafqat Iqbal, officiating as DC Ganderbal, distributed food kits among the locals. On his interaction with people, he was apprised about the various issues being faced by them. People also raised many developmental issues which include upgradation of high school for girls, increasing the number of ambulances in PHC, providing quality drinking water, clearing pending wages of MGNREGA labourers etc.

ADDC accompanied by ACD Ganderbal, Mohammad Ashraf, BDO and frontline workers also visited numerous places across the district to address the issues and demands of people.

ADDC also took a review of the functioning of Aanganwadi scheme. He sought information about the incentives received by pregnant ladies, nutrition of adolescents, immunization and various other issues from the ASHA workers.

Meanwhile, In Halqa Watlar – B, the visiting officer, Assistant Director Planning along with other officers inspected the Chuntiwali War (Lar extension) water filtration plant. Similarly, in Halqa Wudder, Kangan, Bashir Ahmad War, DGM JKPCC, Ganderbal visiting officer, had an inspection of schools. During the inspection various grievances were registered which include compound walling of schools, construction of washrooms in schools, repair of HT and LT lines.

In Srinagar, the ambitious Back to Village programme Wednesday witnessing large public participation and including a host of activities.

The halqas, where the two-day outreach programme started today include Lasjan-B of Srinagar block and Theed-B and Faqir Gujree-A of Harwan block.

In each one of these halqas visiting administrators were accompanied by officers from line departments concerned so as to ensure thorough understanding and recording of their developmental concerns among other grievances.

The programme included meetings with the public and field visits which brought to fore genuine developmental concerns of these halqas. Local representatives expressed high hopes of redressal while participating in different activities that made part of the programme.

Concerns recorded at the halqas include among others dilapidated power and water distribution systems, inadequate drainage etc.

The designated administrators of these halqas will again hold meetings and undertake area inspections in the said halqas tomorrow at the end of which they will submit a compiled report of grievances to the DC for their redressal.

Meanwhile, the Public Contact program continued to witness an overwhelming response from the people in North Kashmir especially women folk with visiting officers receiving rousing receptions.

In Bandipora, the officers visited far-flung Panchayats of the district including Kudara, Sirinder, Chuntimulla, Bhuttoo, Benlipora in Bandipora, Gund Prang, Trigam in Sonawari and Dawar, Shahpora, Baduaab and Gujran in Gurez valley.

The people belonging to Gujjar community welcomed the visiting officers by tying traditional Dastaar to them and showered flower petals. At Kudara the students of Government Middle School Kudara sung folk Gujjar songs welcoming the guests. Elsewhere in the district women sung traditional Kashmir and Sheena songs to welcome the guests in their villages.

Locals appreciated the “Back to Village Program” stating that for the first time a high-rank officer has visited their village. Roshan Jan, a resident of Kudara village said, “For the first time we feel empowered as we are being heard and special attention is being given to the grievances of the women,” and hoped that the program will continue in future and shall go a long way in empowerment of women and the Panchayats in general.

Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Additional District Development Commissioner Mohammad Yousuf Mir and other senior officers of the district visited several Panchayats and participated in the Back to Village Program.

In Baramulla, various Panchayat Halqas were covered on the seventh day of ‘Back to Village’ program during which various developmental works were started in different blocks of the district.

The programs were conducted at various Panchayat Halqas of Tangmarg block, Sangrama block, Rafiabad block, Tujjar Shareef, Khaipora block and other blocks of the district.

At Lalad in Sangrama block, RTO Kashmir, Akramulla Tak, visiting officer, inaugurated the playground in the area in the presence of Secretary Panchayat.

He also held Gram Sabha which witnessed a huge gathering of residents. The officials of line departments were present on the occasion, who informed about various. They also listened to the issues put forward by the residents.

Director Estates, Tariq Hussain Ganai held the discussion with the PRI members at Baba Reshi Chontpatri, in Tangmarg block. He inaugurated culvert at Numblenaar, at an estimated cost of 3.4 lakh rupees. SDM Tangmarg, Tehsil Tangmarg, BDO Tangmarg and other concerned were present on the occasion.

Visiting officer also laid the foundation stone for the construction of ‘Crate Bund’ in front side of Panchayat Ghar’ at Numblenaar. Earlier, he visited schools, primary Health centre, ICDS Centre and other places and took firsthand appraisal of needs and issues faced by residents.

In South Kashmir visiting officers reached out to people in far-flung areas, drawing an overwhelming response from the people who lauded the unique outreach initiative of the Government.

In Kulgam, hundreds of people, who attended the Gram Sabhas and meetings convened by the visiting officers, expressed their happiness—hailing the Government and the district administration for their pro-active role in reaching out to the masses.

Progressive farmer and reputed Horticulturist, Abdul Hameed Ganai said that the programme has provided an opportunity for hundreds of farmers and growers like him, to raise their concerns with the Government.

Similar views were echoed by others here about the Government’s ambitious outreach programme.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani said that the ‘Back to the Village’ programme has proved a facilitator in reaching out to the several far-flung areas of the district.

He said the feedback of the people would help the Government and district administration and in devising plans in tune with development aspirations of people.

Meanwhile, on the seventh day, the programme was initiated in several Panchayat Halqas of the district during which the visiting officers informed people about various welfare schemes and received feedback from the people to ensure equitable development of rural areas.

In Pulwama, the day marked with multiple activities enshrined in the programme in Panchayat halqas of the district wherein people raised their demands and issues before the designated officers.

Director Finance Education Ghulam Mohammad along with Additional Deputy Commissioner Tral Shabir Ahmad conducted interaction programme at Satoora village of Aripal block in which a large number of people participated and raised issues concerning development of their areas.

Similarly, Director Finance Health Rafiq Ahmad and Joint Director FCS&CA, Nazir Ahmad Mir conducted an interaction programme at Kakapora and Pinglena villages respectively.

On the occasion, people apprised the designated officers with several issues faced by them especially regarding electricity and drinking water supply, fencing of school grounds, augmentation of Health infra, desilting of irrigation canals, renovation and macdamization of main and link roads, and benefits from welfare schemes.

Meanwhile, Block Development Officer Pulwama, Abid Iqbal inaugurated a playfield at Chatripora and also interacted with public there to listen to their issues.

Other visiting officers organized number of Gram Sabhas in the other Panchayat halqas of the district to assess the development needs of people and took stock of the various ongoing developmental activities in their areas.

In Shopian, the programme continued with visiting officers reaching out to the doorsteps of the people to assess the developmental needs of the rural areas.

At Panchayat halqas of Doompora and Keegam designated officers conducted interaction programmes in which public deputations highlighted their demands like construction of bridge at Doompora, drinking water, electricity, road connectivity, healthcare, upgradation of schools and macadamization of roads, among other issues.

In other halqas, the designated officers conducted Gram Sabhas to listen to the issues and demands of the people and take their feedback to improve the implementation of welfare schemes.

In Anantnag, the outreach programme commenced in 70 Panchayat halqas Vessu, Qazigund, Shahabad, Verinag and Hiller blocks in the district.

Visiting officers Director Finance Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani and Director Fisheries RN Pandita visited Omoh and Vessu halqas respectively and interacted with the public, PRI members, civil society members, prominent citizens, members of Auqaf Committees, Students and other concerned.

They heard the grievances and suggestions with regard to the development of the villages including development of the basic infrastructure and amenities.

Other visiting officers inspected various government institutions, schools, health centres, banks, under execution works and other village Panchayats which witnessed activities like distribution of certificates, cultural programmes, sports activities etc.

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