Day 6: People across South Kashmir hail ‘Back to Village’ initiative

Public meetings, inspections, dev activities conducted in Panchayat Halqas

SRINAGAR, JUNE 25 : 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.

On the fifth day of the eight-day-long programme, several Panchayat halqas, falling under different blocks were covered. The visiting officials held scores of Gram Sabhas and informed people about the centrally sponsored and state-run schemes for the welfare of the general public. The district administration has devised a programme under three phases.

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 instructed immediate redressal of demands of students and also assured the public that all the genuine issues will be resolved in coming days. On the occasion, the DDC also presented a sports kit to the students of various schools of the Panchayat.

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.  He along with villagers and officials also visited the proposed road through paddy fields and orchards from Bargam to Dadsara village.

The ADC also visited Kahsipora, Lalpora, Jawaharpora, Amlar- Nowpora and interacted with offcials and villagers there.

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

Among other designated officers who remained at their respective Halqas include Faooq Ahmad Malik, Under Secretary Public Works J&K at halqa Wanihama, Malik Bashir Ahmad Under Secretary, Tourism J&K at halqa Roohu and Gh. Mohammad Khan, Private Secretary to Relief & Rehabilitation Department J&K at halqa Muniward.

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.