Back to Village concludes Programme penetrates rural ambits, brings Govt closer to people

Akshay Mahajan

UDHAMPUR, JUNE GNS: The Government-public interface programme ‘Back to Village’ concluded today in the district.The programme witnessed massive response from people who appreciated officers reaching them at their doorsteps and taking note of their basic requirements and challenges.

With astute focus on energizing panchayats, collecting feedback on the delivery of government programmes, capturing specific economic potential and undertaking assessment of needs of the villages, officers visited all 236 panchayats in 17 blocks of Udhampur district under this programme spanning 8 days.

Officers including Financial Commissioner Revenue Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring Rohit Kansal, Commissioner/Secretary PHE, I&FC AK Sahu, Special Secretary Industries and Commerce Avtar Singh Chib, Director Rural Sanitation J&K Leena Padha, Director Technical Education Dr Ravi Shankar Sharma, Registrar J&K Special Tribunal Nitu Gupta, Additional Commissioner Div Com Office Jammu Manisha Sarin, Director Codes Shadi Lal Pandita, Director Horticulture Jammu Raj Kumar Katoch, Director Tourism Jammu OP Bhagat also visited the panchayats and took note of people’s development issues.

During the week Deputy Commissioner, Dr Piyush Singla also visited various panchayats in the district to get first-hand appraisal of the implementation of this ambitious programme.

During the programme, people of these areas raised many developmental issues like macadamization of roads, construction of drains, electricity, drinking water, works under MGNREGA, reconstruction of culverts, repair of electric poles, development of health and educational infrastructure with the visiting officers. The officers also discussed the specific economic potential of the villages, social issues and employment opportunities besides raising awareness among people about various schemes and programmes of the Government.

As part of a special campaign, focus was laid during the week by visiting officers on raising awareness about water conservation and perils of drug abuse.

Villages witnessed positive response of the people towards this pro- people programme and came forward enthusiastically and actively participated in projecting their demands and highlighted their grievances.

During this week, events were organized to commemorate the International Yoga Day and International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.