Day-5 in Jammu: Dwivedi lauds peoples’ pro-active role in success of Back to Village initiative

JK’s first Panchayat in Samba goes hi-tech

JAMMU, JUNE 24: Government’s pioneering initiative ‘Back to Village’ is being received well by the people, exhibiting interest in various activities and seeking pro-active implementation of various welfare and development schemes to percolate benefits to targeted rural populace.
‘Sense of accomplishment is overtaking sense of deprivation with people feeling empowered to take their own decisions, to monitor the implementation and to register their suggestions and grievances, making the implementing agencies responsive and accountable’.
At Jammu, Day 5 of Back to Village programme recorded a multitude of activities which inter alia included Gram Sabhas, Women Gram Sabhas, interaction with frontline government functionaries, PRIs, social activists, NGOs, prominent citizens and retired employees, visit to schools, health centers, AW centers, government assets, water bodies, electric stations, important private enterprises, ongoing and languishing projects besides inauguration of playfields, buildings and development works, visit to villages of the allotted panchayats and constitution of social audit committees by the gram panchayat where it doesn’t exist. Distribution of certificates/benefits/opening of accounts, enrollment of beneficiaries under PM kisan and PM Shram yogi mandhan, cleanliness drives and plantation drives in gram Panchayats.
Commissioner Secretary Information, Forest Ecology and Environment Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, today visited Panchayat Jhajjar Kotli and lauded the pro-active role of village community in the success of the programme, saying this reflects their deep yearning for development and implementation of various welfare schemes.
In an interactive session with the PRIs, locals and the frontline government functionaries, he sought first-hand information about developmental activities in the area and hoped that the people will continue to give their suggestions to the executing agencies.
Dwivedi took round of various areas of the Panchayat and assessed the ground situation regarding public utilities and status of implementation of several flagship programmes.
He visited the Park and other tourist spots in Jhajjar Kotli and was informed about the dire need of construction of toilet complexes to facilitate the tourists thronging the spot in large numbers. He also visited guest house of forest department and asked the concerned authorities to initiate repair and renovation work there.
The people demanded development of an artificial lake at Jhajjar kotli which will further add to the tourism grandeur of the destination besides providing employment to local people of the panchayat.
He visited PHE Pump Station, PDD Grid Station and took stock of infrastructure and water power supply situation in the Panchayat. He was informed about the poor condition of the filtration plant with a strong public demand for enhancing the existing capacity besides improving the machinery part of the utility.
People demanded establishment of a Degree College in the PDD land lying vacant and unutilized since long so that the students especially girls can pursue their higher studies as the local students have to cover long distances for their higher studies.
Dwivedi also visited Anganwadi centre and took stock of facilities being provided to children there. He took stock of availability of ration and other edibles in the center.
The locals demanded a permanent structure with toilet facilities for the Anganwari Center which is working in a rented accommodation.
The Commissioner Secretary visited Sub Health Centre and inspected infrastructure and facilities available in the centre.
The locals demanded up gradation of the hospital with adequate staff and doctors especially in view of the area being close to National Highway.
Dwivedi along with other concerned officers inaugurated a Lane and laid foundation stone for community sanitary complex at village Jhajjar Kotli. He also planted trees in Panchayat ghar premises.
Later, a cultural program was organised by the Cultural wing of department of Information and Public Relations regarding awareness among the public about government schemes.
Chief Conservator Forests, Ravi Kumar Kesar, ACD Jammu, Aijaz Kesar, ACR Jammu, Chander Parkash, BDO, Vishav Partap Singh, senior officers of Forest, ICDS, Health, PHE, PDD, Sarpanch, Reena Thapa, all panchs, Asha Workers and local people of the panchayat were present on the occasion.
At Samba, Day 5 of Back to Village programme was marked with various activities mandated under the initiative in the 2nd phase of “Back to Village programme” in 36 panchayat halqas of Nud, Ramgarh and Sumb blocks of the district.
In a significant achievement, Rarri Panchayat of Ramgarh block of Samba district got the privilege of becoming the first Panchayat of Jammu and Kashmir to go high-tech as part of the ‘’Digital India’’ campaign.
The designated officer for the Panchayat in presence of Sub District Magistrate Vijaypur launched the event under the “Back to Village” programme.
Meanwhile, the designated officers dedicated Sanitary napkin vending machines to the Girl students of various Government Schools including Higher Secondary School Goran, Higher Secondary School Sumb and High School Rarian in Ramgarh and Sumb blocks. The machines were installed by District Social Welfare Department under the supervision of DSW.
The designated officers also conducted interaction programmes and awareness camps in their respective panchayats during which people were informed about various welfare schemes.
The day also witnessed Gram Sabhas for both men and women organized in various Panchayats where people put-forth their demands with regard to road connectivity, power, water, healthcare, education, conservation of water resources and proper implementation of government sponsored schemes.
The PM letter addressed to the Gram Sabhas was also read on the occasion.
The Visiting Officers inaugurated several development works including playfield, Houses under PMAY-G, IHHL besides distributed MGNREGA job cards, PRCs to the beneficiaries followed by constitution of Social Audit Committees by the concerned Gram Panchayats. Other activities including sanitation and plantation drives were also carried out in various Panchayats Halqas.
At Kathua, On the fifth consecutive day of phase 3 of the ‘Back to Village’ programme, designated officers conducted Gram Sabhas, inspections and interaction programmes in 44 panchayats across 4 blocks of the district.
The officers covered Panchayats of Nagri, Kathua, Dhar Mahanpur and Mandli blocks to get first hand appraisal of basic amenities in villages besides taking stock of rural issues.
DDC, Vikas Kundal, visited several panchayats and assesses the activities being conducted under the programme.
The villagers projected various demands like benefits under PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), old age pension, PM Jan Aarogya Yojana(PMJAY), drinking water, augmentation of PDD infra, renewal of gun licenses, PRC, Dogra Certificate, subsidy on agriculture implements, repair of link roads besides benefits from other welfare schemes.
DDC stressed on motivating villagers to participate in conservation and restoration of natural water bodies, rain water harvesting, establishing vermin compost units, plantation drive during monsoons and leveling playfields.
The officers distributed LPG cylinders under Ujjwala Yojana, fruit saplings and pass books for BBBP beneficiaries besides inaugurating rural infrastructure and employment fair for rural youth.
DDC was accompanied by ACD Kathua, Sukhpal Singh, BDOs, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar and Patwari of the concerned panchayat.
At UDHAMPUR, phase 2 of the Back to Village initiative commenced in the district today with 104 panchayats being taken up for programme activities.
Under the initiative, a range of programmes including gram sabhas and inspections of public facilities in each of these panchayats were carried out. The aim of these initiatives is to get a correct understanding of developmental shortfalls and other requirements.
During the public meets, people raised a multitude of issues including immediate augmentation of power supply and Medicare facilities, road connectivity especially internal roads, water scarcity, inclusion of left out beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat, school upgradation, constitution of social audit committees, clearing of pending payments under MGNREGA, availability of medical transport for patients especially for pregnant ladies, inappropriate educational facilities, among others issues.
During these meets, women were also educated about the importance of being self-reliant. They were given the information about the creation of Self-Help Groups (SHG) and various skill development programmes, besides other state and centrally sponsored schemes.
A number of inspections of public services were also carried out during the day. Designated administrators were accompanied by officers from concerned line departments in order to ensure proper understanding and recording of grievances and concerns which will be submitted as a compiled report to the office of DC for their redressal.
DDC Dr Piyush Singla also visited various Panchayat of Block Udhampur to take review of Back to village initiative. He interacted with PRI, members Villagers and visiting officers and enquired about implementation of the initiative.
Director Horticulture, Jammu Raj Kumar Katoch visited Panchayat Mansar and Dr Ravi Shankar also visited at panchayat Chani Tehsil Majalta of District Udhampur.
Pertinently out of total 236 panchayats, 121 were covered in phase -1 . The remaining 115 panchayats will be covered as part of phase -2
At Reasi, various activities including Gram Sabhas, Mahila Gram sabhas, distribution of job cards, PRCs and other certificates, inspection of public utilities and water bodies, interaction with frontline government functionaries, PRIs and prominent citizens, visit to schools, health centers, AW centers, government assets, electric stations, ongoing and languishing projects besides inauguration of playfields, buildings and development works marked the Day 5 of Back to Village programme in the district.
Principal Secretary, HU&DD, Dheeraj Gupta, during his visit to Sirakotla Panchayat laid foundation stone for drain besides inaugurating works under MGNREGA for development of water point at ward 6 of the Panchayat. He also inspected local health centres, schools, ponds and other water bodies at Sirah, Kotla and Karkyal villages.
Gupta also witnessed cultural programme and volleyball tournament in the evening.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Indu Kanwal Chib also visited panchayat Ghiyala of block Reasi and oversaw the Back to Village programme. She also inspected bridge at Anji Nallah and planted saplings at the panchayat.