Srinagar, June 17 (KNO) : Various meetings were held today across the Kashmir division to work out the modalities for successful implementation of State government’s flagship programme “Back to village,” held from June 20 to 27 across the State. The ambitious programme has four main goals including energising panchayats, collecting feedback on delivery of government schemes and programmes, capturing specific economic potential, and undertaking assessment of needs of villages.
During the programme designated gazetted officers will stay for at least two-days including a night halt in assigned villages and take firsthand assessment of developmental needs and economic potential by holding direct interaction with people and Panchayat representatives. The officers will then submit a report to the concerned district administrations for redressal of their grievances.
In Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, in this regard chaired a meeting today to discuss modalities for the implementation of the programme. Extensive discussions on measures required to be taken for implementation of the programme in Panchayats of the district and achieving objectives thereof were held during the meeting.
The meeting also discussed contents and activities to be undertaken as part of the programme by different departments. It was informed that officers designated have been assigned Panchayats totalling 21 spread over four blocks of the district for undertaking tasks as specified under the programme adding that a schedule for the programme has been finalised. It was also informed that a sensitisation programme for designated administrators was currently underway at the DC Office auditorium.
Additional Deputy Commissioner K K Sidha and senior officers of concerned departments of the district attended the meeting. At Kulgam a training programme was held at mini Secretariat Kulgam to sensitise the officers and officials about their role and responsibilities during the programme. The training programme was carried out in two back to back sessions in which employees were acquainted about their role and nomenclature of their duties.
During the training master trainers explained the things. On the occasion, ACR Kulgam, Mir Imtiyaz ul Aziz and ACD Hilal Ahmad briefed the officers about the activities. While highlighting the objective of the programme DDC Kulgam Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani said that the focus of the programme is to energise Panchayats, collect feedback on delivery of government schemes/programmes, capturing specific economic potential and undertake assessment of needs of the villages. He said that all requisite arrangements have been put in place to make this programme a great success.
At Kupwara, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Anshul Garg during the meeting of district officers said that the purpose of the programme is to energize the Panchayat Raj system in the State. The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner, Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara & Handwara, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara & Handwara, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, ACD, CEO, Executive Engineers of R&B, PDD, PHE, Tehsildars, EOs of Kupwara, Hanwara & Langate and other concerned.
385 Panchayat Halqas of the district are going to be covered through the programme under the overall supervision of six nodal officers nominated by the Deputy Commissioner. On the occasion Deputy Commissioner sought cooperation and coordination among district and sectoral officers for smooth conduct of programme across the district. DC directed the concerned for ensuring photographic, video-graphic coverage of all the events. He also said that the concerned departments shall coordinate with all other line departments and chalking out the chart of activities for the event including awareness about Government schemes. He also directed the officer and other concerned to remain present on the place of posting and no leave will be sanctioned during the programme.
At Baramulla, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo informed that all the requisite arrangements have been made with regard to the conduct of ‘Back to Village’ programme. He said that in Baramulla district, 402 gazetted officers have been nominated for 402 panchayat halqas who shall be assigned a Gram Panchayat, where he/she will stay for at least two days including a night.
Specifying the objective of the programme, DC said that this is a first of its kind, when the J&K Government has embarked on an ambitious initiative of reaching out to people at the grassroots level through a program.
The DC said that the programme will involve the people of the district and government officials in a joint effort to deliver the mission of equitable development across all our rural areas besides mobilizing public opinion on different issues at different levels.
Meanwhile, DC informed that two days training programme concluded during which Tehsildars and BDOs were acquainted with the training module by the master trainers so as to ensure smooth conduct of the program. At Shopian, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Shopian, Dr Owais Ahmed today chaired a meeting of district officers to discuss modalities for successful implementation of the programme in the district. Additional Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner Development, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Zainapora, all district/sectorial officers were present in the meeting.
During the meeting, DDC directed the officers to interact with the people at panchayat level and take a firsthand account of their issues. He asked the officers to submit a report to the administration for the redressal of genuine demands. He directed the Rural Development department to organize activities in each Panchayat in addition to the activities of other departments. He further informed that each department will carry out various awareness and extension activities at Panchayat and village level.
At Bandipora, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Bandipora Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza chaired a meeting of officers to finalize the arrangements for the implementation of programme. The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Bandipora Mohammad Yousuf Mir, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Reyaz Ahmad Beigh, Joint Director Planning Imitiyaz Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner Development Jahangir Ahmad Khandey, District Information Officer Jahangir Ahmad Akhoon, District Panchayat Officer Nazir Ahmad and other senior officers of the district.
The meeting finalized several measures to be taken for the effective implementation of the program in 151 Panchayats of the district. The meeting finalized the list of officers and officials to be deputed in the Panchayats. Deputy Commissioner said the officers will interact with the people at Panchayat level and take a first- hand account of the issues and problems of the people and will give a report to the administration for the redressal of grievances.
He said it will be the best opportunity for the officers to connect with the people at the grassroot level and know the problems of the people. He said it shall be the government at their doorsteps of people. He said the officers shall also monitor the implementation of various welfare schemes in their respective Panchayats and ensure that services are being provided to the people including education, health, besides other basic amenities.
Meeting also finalized the schedule of the program, design, and content of the program besides deciding upon the activities to be undertaken during the programme by various departments including Rural Development, Education, Health, Power Development, R&B, Agriculture and allied sectors. Later the officers interacted with Village Level Workers and other field functionaries and briefed them about the Back to Village Program.
At Pulwama, District Development Commissioner Pulwama, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah convened a meeting of officers where several measures were discussed regarding the implementation of ‘Back to Village’ program. He informed that District Pulwama comprises of 190 Panchayat where various awareness and extension activities will be carried during the programme.
DDC instructed officers to conduct meetings with BDOs and frontline line workers for better coordination to make this programme successful. He stressed for provision of safety, security and establishment of logistic arrangements where field workers and government officers have to visit particularly in sensitive areas of the district.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama , Tral & Awantipora, heads of various departments, Tehsildars, BDOs and other officers of different departments were present in the meeting. At Budgam, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Budgam Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar held a meeting with Sarpanchs of the district to deliberate on the ambitious outreach project.
DDC Budgam speaking on the occasion emphasized upon the Sarpanchs to actively participate in the programme by creating awareness among the people and by ensuring effective participation of people of the Gram Panchayats. Later on interactive session on grievance redressal was also held wherein stress was sought on the better coordination of frontline officials of different departments in the delivery of public services in the Gram Panchayats.
In another meeting with district officers, detailed department-wise Action Plan was chalked out, which will be executed during the visits of the gazetted officer to the 296 GPs of the district. The Action Plan enumerated the activities, to be taken up by departments. Among others, CPO, SDMs, ACD, CEO, CMO, DPO, district officers, BDOs and other officials attended the meeting.
At Ganderbal, Additional District Development Commissioner, Shafqat Iqbal who is also officiating as Deputy Commissioner convened a meeting of district officers of various departments to work out modalities for successful implementation of flagship programme. Chief Planning Officer Ganderbal, Ex-En PHE, Ex-En PMGSY, CMO Ganderbal, ARTO Ganderbal, DIO Ganderbal besides other officers of different departments were also present in the meeting.
He further said the officers shall also monitor the implementation of various welfare schemes in their respective allotted Panchayat and ensure that all basic services are being provided to the people including education, health and other basic amenities.(KNO)