Block Divas: DC Kathua listens to public grievances at Bani

Kathua, October 28:- To get first-hand account of the public grievances, Deputy Commissioner, Om Parkash Bhagat, today presided over the Block Divas program here at Bani.
SSP Kathua, Shailendra Mishra, BDC Chairpersons, District and block level officers, PRI members and a large number of people were present at the day long programme.
Delegations from different panchayats besides scores of individuals apprised the Deputy Commissioner about the problems faced being by them in day to day life. The delegations also include BDC Chairperson Duggan block, Neelam Devi.
The main issues highlighted during the programme include provision of local timber sale at concessional rates to PMAY beneficiaries, coverage of left out families under BPL/APL ration, permission to PRI members to extract minor minerals from Sewa River, opening of new ration depot at Dhoula and filling up of vacant posts of Gynaecologist and Orthopedic surgeon at SDH Bani and staff in PHC Dhaggar. The provision to stock adequate PDD transformers in view of ensuing winters was also highlighted by the locals.
The DC gave patient hearing to the delegations and passed on the spot directions for redress of their grievances. He assured that highlighted issues of public importance will be taken up with higher authorities.
While interacting with the people, the DC said that public outreach programmes such as Block Divas is devised to reach to the doorstep of the people and redress their problems with the intervention of concerned departments besides assessing the progress of developmental works.
He said PRI representatives now have a larger role in local development. Appealing people to actively participate in gram sabhas, he said it was necessary to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions. He directed field functionaries of different departments to raise awareness on individual beneficiary oriented schemes.
Meanwhile at Hiranagar, Basohli and Billawar, Block Divas programmes were held at each designated location, where the team of Sub District / Sub Division administration along with the frontline field functionaries delivered varied services to the people and listened to their grievances.