District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary convened a meeting of all SDMs, Tehsildars, BDOs, CDPOs, BMOs, TSOs to review the functioning of administration at ground level and directed establishment of strong inter-departmental coordination in the spirit of Single Line Administration. He called upon the officers to strengthen administration at village level.The DDC reviewed the status of functioning of field offices, redressal of public grievances, service delivery of staff in schools, health institutions and anganwadi centres, progress under IEC activities, verification of BPL/APL ration cards and addition of missing families as per 2011 census. He also examined the status of PSGA and RTI Act implementation at sub-division and Tehsil level.
It was decided in the meeting that 353 Village Development Committees (VDCs) will be constituted within two weeks comprising officials from Revenue, Rural Development, Social Welfare, Health, Agriculture, Education, PHE and other departments with equal participation from village panchayats on rotational basis. The VDCs will work as a team to ensure proper functioning of all offices and institutions and also for implementation of government schemes on ground. Gram Sabha will be held every month to review the functioning of various government establishments. More than 3000 officials will be part of VDC and ensure coordinated and participatory development at village level. Village Sahulat Centers will be nodal points for multi-departmental grievance redressal.
Dr Choudhary directed the officers to ensure that field officials are present at their place of duty and remain available in villages and panchayats to redress public grievances. Soon after the notification of VDCs these committees will have to keep a track of all departments on daily basis and ensure proper functioning of schools, anganwadi centres, skill development centres, ration depots, supply of power, water and ration. It was also decided in the meeting that administration will hold Ration Card Gram Sabhas in entire district for identification and inclusion of missing families and issue ration cards to uncovered BPL/APL families. The move is aimed to benefit more than 25,000 uncovered families and provide ration as per 2011 census.