Srinagar : The week-long ‘Back to Village’ flagship outreach programme of the Government concluded today across the Kashmir division during which designated officers reached out to people in all the Panchayat halqas to assess their development needs, inform them about welfare schemes and take their feedback for socio-economic transformation of rural areas.

The programme primarily aimed at energising the 4,483 Panchayats of the State and directing development efforts in rural areas through community participation in a joint effort to deliver the mission of equitable development across all the rural areas.

In Srinagar

The weeklong rural outreach programme ended with high hopes for redressal of developmental grievances recorded across 21 Panchayat halqas of Srinagar.

The Panchayat halqas where the programme marked its culmination were Lasjan-B of Srinagar block and Theed-B and Faqir Gujree-A of Harwan block where outreach activities started yesterday amid large public participation.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has assured of redressal of all genuine grievances raised and recorded in all 21 Panchayat halqas of the district during the weeklong outreach programme.

Assistant Director Information Abdul Ahad Bhat, the designated officer for Panchayat Halqa Theed B held various Gram Sabhas, while Deputy Secretary, Ideel Saleem held public interaction at Lasjan Srinagar.

In Baramulla

Various Panchayat halqas were covered on the eighth day of ‘Back to Village’ programme, covering all 402 Panchayat halqas.

District Development Commissioner Dr G N Itoo accompanied by the visiting officers and others concerned carried out several social and developmental activities envisaged under the programme.

At Ferozpora, an array of events having social and developmental significance were carried out meant for the overall welfare of the area. DDC inspected the PHE’s water supply mechanism in Ferozpora Nallah. Moreover, various cultural programmes including a skit with the theme ‘Conservation of Water Bodies’ were organized which evoked applause from the audience. The skit depicted the ill consequences of human intervention on water bodies and highlighted their importance for ecological balance.

At Drang

DDC inspected the Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) and reviewed its functioning. The project has the plant capacity of 10 MW with machine capacity as 3.33 MW. DDC also visited the ethnic tourist destination being developed at Drang under the centrally sponsored Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP).

On concluding day of the program, various developmental works were started in different Panchayat halqas. At Hadipora B in Rohama block, visiting officer Dr Junaid Kar inaugurated ‘fencing of graveyard’ under CDF at an estimate cost of 2.99 lakh. He also held Gram Sabha and documented the issues raised by the people. At Panzala, Rohama block ‘construction of play ground’ was inaugurated by visiting officer Ghulam Hassan Mir. He also inaugurated Food store at Panziwari.

During the Gram Sabha at Panzala, cheques were distributed to the Self-Help Groups by BDO, Rohama, Fahmeeda Banu.

In Budgam

Evoking massive people’s participation, ‘Back to Village’ concluded across the 296 Panchayat blocks.

The programme which was held in four phases of all 17 blocks of the district was marked by public interactions, Gram Sabhas, Women Gram Sabhas, sports activities, awareness campaigns, field visits, awareness on state and centrally sponsored schemes, grievances redressal camps, sanitation and cleanliness drives and other related activities during the 8-day long programme.

Distribution of 300 sports kits, 200 dustbins, formation of social audit committees, inauguration of playfields, bridges, roads, link roads, organizing of melas and exhibitions by various departments were other activities conducted during the outreach programme.

Out of 296 Panchayat Halqas, 80 Panchayat halqas were covered under first phase of the programme while as 74, 84 and 58 Panchayat Halqas were covered during the second, third and fourth phase of the programme respectively across the district.

On the concluding day, Commissioner/ Secretary, Labour and Employment, Saurabh Bhagat, besides holding number of interactions session at Shiekhpora Panchayat Halqa of Budgam also conducted inspections of various institutions in the area.

In Wathora Panchayat Halqa of Chadoora Block, Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez conducted public interaction and listened to the demands and issues raised by the large gathering of locals who participated in the programme.

In Ganderbal

On the concluding day of the programme, visiting officers held Gram Sabhas at various Panchayat halqas in the district during which inaugurations and inspection of different development projects was also conducted.

At halqa Churu, ADDC Shafqat Iqbal planted conifer saplings and inaugurated a playground at halqa Sunarpora. ADC Mohammad Ashraf besides other concerned were also present.

At halqa Cherwan-B in Kangan, the visiting officers informed people about direct benefit transfer of banking systems and usage of digital banking.

Similarly, at Halqa Cherwan-A, visiting officer from the Department of Agriculture discussed a range of issues with the public which included construction of footbridge from Cherwan to Balpora, release of pension, marriage funds besides other issues. People put forth their demands like building panchayat Ghar, Floriculture Park, sports stadium etc.

Whereas, at halqa Surfraw visiting officer Fohyan Ahmad Sofi inaugurated a footpath and a passenger shed. During his interaction with public, he was apprised about the dilapidated condition of roads. Besides, at Wudder, visiting officer Mehraj-u-din inaugurated a sanitation block and laid foundation stone of a culvert.

In Kulgam

On the final and concluding day of the programme, the Deputy Commissioner Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani sought feedback from field officials about the success of the Government-Public interface initiative.

“After doing an assessment of our district, we have devised a plan to reach out to the people, profile their grievances and demands, so that we have a policy document based on the feedback of the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people— who made it to the Gram Sabhas and meeting convened by the visiting officers, expressed their happiness—hailing the government and the district administration for their pro-active role in taking the governance to the doorsteps of the people.

In Pulwama

Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra listened to public grievances and demands at High School Lethpora which was organised for two halqas- Jawbara and Lethpora.

District Development Commissioner Syed Abid Rashid and ADC Awantipura Muhammad Ashraf Hakak accompanied the Principal Secretary on the occasion.

During the interaction, villagers projected their demands regarding road infrastructure, power, drinking water, upgradation of school education infrastructure and other basic amenities.

The Principal Secretary directed for immediate redressal of issues put forth by the public deputations. He also sought feedback from the visiting officers about the programme.

He called for formation of Social Audit Committees so that Panchayat representatives can keep a track of funds for the better development of villages.

Principal Secretary Home also directed Tehsildar and BDO to identify 20 kanals of land for construction of sports stadium in Lethpora.

During the public interaction programme, it was informed that Rs 1 crore budget has been allotted for Lethpora A, Rs 85 lakh for Lethpora B and Rs 84 lakh for Barsoo village for the year 2019-20.

Later, Kabra along with DDC Pulwama also inaugurated an interior road from Lethpora to Barosa village.

In Kakapora village road to hospital was also inaugurated at the concluding day of the programme.

Other visiting officers also conducted Gram Sabhas at various halqas of the district.

In Shopian

District Development Commissioner, Dr Owais Ahmed, congratulated the whole team of line Departments of the district for performing their duties with zeal and zest during the programme ‘Back To Village’.

During the programme, 98 Panchayat halqas falling under 9 blocks of Shopian, Zainapora, Chitragam , Hermain, Kanjuillar, Keller, Imamsahib, Kaprin and Ramnagri were covered by the 98 visiting officers nominated by the Government. During the programme scores of Gram Sabhas, as well as Women’s Gram Sabhas, were held.

Locals also projected issues regarding implementation of PM Fasal Bima Yojana, old age pension, PM Jan Aarogya Yojana. They also demanded better connectivity of roads from Shopian to Srinagar and installation of street lights on the main roads.

The visiting officers during the programme listened to the grievances of the people and suggestions and assured them that all their genuine demands will be taken with the concerned authorities and will be full filled at an earliest.

In Anantnag

The programme concluded with enthusiasm and synergy in all the 70 Halqas of the five blocks namely Shahabad, Verinag, Hiller Vesso and Qazigund.

The designated officers, remained with public at their venues at Womoh halqa, Vessu halqa YK Pora halqa, Fathepora halqa and Lookbown halqa of the RDD blocks and listened various demands and grievances of the public. The demands raised include road connectivity, power, water, healthcare, education, banking facilities, establishing Nayabats and replacement of electric poles etc.

In Bandipora

The designated officers discussed measures to further boost developmental scenario and strengthening of Panchayati Raj System in their assigned panchayat halqas. Issues of public importance and devolution of powers to panchayats besides implementation of welfare schemes formed part of these interactions.

On concluding day, the programme began with the recitation of the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on rain water conservation by Panchs and Sarpanches at all the 50 Panchayats of the district.

Gram Sabhas were held at all the Panchayats of the district with special Gram Sabhas organised for female folk. Sameen Amin, a resident of Watrina Bandipora said she was first time invited in the Gram Sabha. “We apprised the officer about our issues. We don’t have pure drinking water and have many other issues regarding healthcare etc,” she said adding that they feel empowered as they have been heard and the officers have documented our grievances.

At Naidkhai A, Naidkhai B, Odina A, Odina B, Madwan A, Madwan B, Baharabad A, Baharabad B and Rakhi Asham Panchayats of Hajin and Naidkhai blocks, the officers sought to know the response of large number of participants about the government schemes.

The officers sensitised people about a number of such schemes offered by Social Welfare, Education, Health and other departments that are aimed at uplifting the rural and economically background residents of the state.

During the interaction with Panchayat Raj representatives, the participants projected their grievances which were noted by the visiting officers.