Bandipora: As part of phase third of ambitious ‘Back to Village’ program, Principal Secretary Education, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Tuesday visited border villages in Gurez Valley to take stock of issues and concerns of the rural masses for redressal.
District Development Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad , Assistant Commissioner Development Abdul Rasheed Dass, CEO Bandipora, SDM Gurez, BDOs and a large number of people were present on the occasion.
Principal Secretary said that the main objective of B2V3 Program is to reach out to the people at their door steps besides connecting them with the administration for efficient and smooth public service delivery.
Samoon participated in the B2V3 activities at Dawar Panchayat and interacted with the people asking them to be part of decision making in developmental activities of their villages. He assessed their developmental requirements and grievances as well.
More than a dozen delegations besides individuals called on the Principal Secretary and raised several demands regarding their day to day matters pertaining to inadequate water supply, macadamization and renovation of roads, up gradation of schools, better health services and related issues.
Interacting with the people, Dr Asgar Samoon said the government aims at empowering the local governance at grass roots level so that the common masses become part of the decision making and developmental activities in their villages. He said empowering Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) is helping in making people part of the developmental activities and are instrumental in effectively accelerating the pace of progress at grass root level.
Later, Dr Samoon participated in a Gram Sabha held at Dawar to discuss development plans. He said now the people decide about developmental activities by participating in Gram Sabhas. “No more the decisions are imposed on them but they decide themselves how to spend the budget meant for their villages”.
He appealed the people to actively participate in Gram Shabhas for projecting their demands and prioritize the works to be taken up in their respective villages. He exhorted upon them to be an active part in decision making which is vital for boosting developmental activities.
“People must stand up for their rights and ask officers about various welfare and development schemes envisaged for public welfare and development.
While urging people to come forward with their developmental issues and aspirations, Principal Secretary informed that government is keen towards achieving saturation in individual beneficiary schemes. He said that concerned functionaries are being mobilized with special focus on growth and development of rural and remote areas. He said that various initiatives are being launched to improve the public service delivery and also urged upon the people to extend their cooperation in the journey of development.
Dr Samoon said the Back to Village program has been launched with the purpose to reach out to the people at their doorsteps for listening to their grievances and development aspirations. He said that in coming days PRIs will be conferred more powers as they play major role in development of villages and are aware about the development needs at grass root level.
He asked the visiting officers to discuss the 15th FC Plan with the people in Gram Sabhas and prioritize works as per their needs before finalizing the plan.
On the occasion, officers briefed the Principal Secretary about the status of works approved in B2V1 besides works taken up under MGNREGA and 14th FC Plan.
Later, the Principal Secretary visited Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Dawar and participated in Sports activities organised as part of Back To Village Program.
He also felicitated meritorious students of Class 8th, Class 10th and class 12th and distributed Education Kits, Hearing Aids and sports kits among the students and youth.
Several cultural programs were also presented by different cultural clubs on the occasion.
