In a first of its kind, the J&K Government has embarked on an ambitious initiative of reaching out to the people at the grassroots level through a programme named as ‘Back to the Village’. The programme is being organized from June 20-27, 2019 across all Panchayats of the state.
To describe the contours of the programme, Chief Secretary on Friday held a marathon meeting here at the Civil Secretariat with the Administrative Secretaries. Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh besides Deputy Commissioners and HoDs of various departments participated in the meeting through video conferencing, said an official handout.
Specifyingthe objective of the programmme, Chief Secretary said that ‘Back to theVillage’ programme will focus on four main goals viz energizing Panchayats,collecting feedback on delivery of government schemes/programmes, capturingspecific economic potential and undertaking assessment of needs of the villagesbesides affording an opportunity to Gazetted officers to visit the villages.
Hesaid the programmme will involve the people of the state and governmentofficials in a joint effort to deliver the mission of equitable developmentacross all our rural areas. The programme is primarily aimed at energizing the4483 Panchayats and directing development efforts in rural areas throughcommunity participation and to create in the rural masses an earnest desire fordecent standard of living.
Aspart of this programme, Chief Secretary observed that each gazetted officerwill be assigned a Gram Panchayat, where he/she will stay for atleast two daysincluding a night halt in the village to interact and obtain feedback from thePanchayat representatives, elders and other local people about their concerns,developmental needs and economic potential of the area. The feedback soobtained will help the government in needs assessment and subsequently totailor the various central and state government schemes/programmes in improvingdelivery of village-specific services and making the village life better interms improved amenities and economic upliftment.
ChiefSecretary said ‘Back to the Village’ programme has been conceived with thenotion that developmental initiatives that are built on the feedback andcooperation of the people are more result oriented and have greater probabilityto succeed than those which are top down. He added that the programme revolvesaround the concept that while the official machinery has to guide and assist,the primary responsibility to improve local conditions rests with the peoplethemselves. Therefore, people must be encouraged to own the programme so thatbenefits are maximized for them.
Toensure smooth conduct of the programme, Chief Secretary said that officers willundergo programme familiarization training on June 15, 2019 at the divisionallevel and subsequently training will be organized at the district level. Hedirected the DCs to remain personally present during the training programmesfor better understanding and coordination with the officers to be assigned thePanchayats in their districts.
Whileemphasizing upon the importance of Panchayats and their pivotal role in theoverall rural development, Chief Secretary said that the life of a personliving in a rural area is not cut into segments in the way the Governmentactivities are prone to be. “The approach at the village level, therefore, hasto be a coordinated one, touching all aspects of village life. Such anapproach, has to be made, not through a multiplicity of departmental officials,but through Panchayats” he said and added that the essence of the ‘Back to theVillage’ programme is to emphasize the importance of ensuring, right from thebeginning, people’s participation, not merely as an agent in the execution ofthe development works but as owners of the entire programme.