Back to Village program most effective means for rural infrastructural dev: Sarmad

Samba: Secretary Tourism, Youth Services and Sports Departments, Sarmad Hafeez, – also the district in-charge Secretary of district Samba, Thursday visited Panchayat Chajjwal and participated in the special Gram Sabha held as part of ‘Back to Village-3 program’.
Addressing the locals during the visit, the Secretary said the prime resolve of the government is to empower the Panchayati Raj institutions by gradual devolution of powers. He said Panchayat gram Sabhas are to be strengthened to encourage participatory development in the rural areas.
Earlier, Block Development Council chairperson, Kamlesh Kumari, Sarpanch Chajjwal Girdhara Singh, and local panchs gave a detailed briefing on the works executed in the area till date which were sanctioned in the previous back to village program including conservation of prime water body pond in the Panchayat, completion of 06 new rural roads, 100% coverage under old age pensions, plantation drive by Deptt. of forest, besides other works by Deptt. of Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development department.
Later, the Gram Sabha discussed development works under 15th FC plan, MGNREGA, SBM-G approval of PMAY beneficiaries’ list, sanctioning of new rural roads, lane drain work, culvert sanctioning, water body conservation plan besides other demands and approved by members of Panchayat in presence of locals.
Addressing the participants at the Panchayat, Sarmad Hafeez said the Government of JKUT has put in maximum effort in taking the governance at the doorsteps of the people. He said the back to village program, in addition to filling infrastructural gaps, also provided a platform for dissemination of information about various government sponsored schemes among the general public. He assured that works pending due to covid-19 pandemic will be taken up and completed at the earliest.
The Secretary also gave away awards, subsidy certificates, fresh Driving Licenses, Kissan Credit Cards, wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aid, other prosthetic aids, Job Cards under MGNREGA, soil Health benefit cards besides other govt sponsored schemes’ benefits at the function.
Deputy Commissioner Rohit Khajuria, Assistant Commissioner Sidharath Dhiman, District Panchayat Officer Piyush Dhotra, besides other district officers, field functionaries and locals in large numbers were present.
Meanwhile, the Visiting Officer, Private Secretary to Principal Secretary Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, Sham Abrol, distributed hybrid plants, inaugurated newly constructed pond and inspected ongoing and completed works under B2V phase -I and phase II at Panchayat Taloor of Block Sumb of Samba district.