Empowerment of people at the grass roots has not ended just with the constitution of three tier panchayat system in Jammu & Kashmir but even the Nambardars and Chowkidars the strongest sources of public connections in villages too are now being empowered with the intent of improving both the delivery of public services and as well as implementation of developmental projects across Jammu & Kashmir. Though digital intervention has changed the working of both the democratic and as well as administrative institutions from grass root level to the highest echelons of administration but still the Government has once again highlight the role of Numberdars and Chowkidars in both revenue and rent collection matters besides other governance related matters in Villages across Jammu & Kashmir. Not only in revenue, land encroachment and rent collection matters but Chowkidars and Numberdars have also a central role in the delivery of basic social services including sanitation facilities, healthcare services, working of educational institutions and functioning of police. Though roles of Numberdars and Chowkidars have been defined decades ago by the popular governments of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state but their strict involvement in both the decision making and as well as the implementation process remained a mystery for decades together. While the fact remains that without the assistance of Numberdars and Chowkidars the revenue, rent collection and land encroachment matters can’t settled in short time, the review of their working at the highest level by none other than the Chief Secretary him with the intent of improving their working on ground is laudable. The review of the working of Numberdars and as well as Chowkidars at the highest level by all standards understandabilities would bring under scanner the lapses in the delivery of public services and as well as execution of developmental projects in villages at the grass root level.
Chief Secretary by directing removal of non performing numberdars and Chowkidars and replacing them with right people has sent out a strong message of zero tolerance against non performance even at the grass root level in villages across Jammu & Kashmir . Never forget that working of both democratic and as well as administrative institutions at grass roots level by all standards of understandabilities lays down a strong foundation for both the delivery of public services and as well as implementation of developmental initiatives in the villages across Jammu & Kashmir .
So lapses in the delivery of public services and execution of development projects once noticed in villages at the grass root level and addressed right in earnest by people at the helm of affairs would by all standards of understandabilities fast pace the pace of development the inalienable parts of which are the elected panchayat bodies’ at all three levels. Chief Secretary by directing removal of non performing numberdars and Chowkidars and replacing them with right people has sent out a strong message of zero tolerance against non performance even at the grass root level in villages across Jammu & Kashmir . Never forget that working of both democratic and as well as administrative institutions at grass roots level by all standards of understandabilities lays down a strong foundation for both the delivery of public services and as well as implementation of developmental initiatives in the villages across Jammu & Kashmir .
