The second phase of the flagship Back to Village programme started Monday with a host of activities amid substantial public participation in Srinagar.Public meetings and field visits by designated gazetted officers held in eight halqa panchayats across four blocks of the district brought forth a range of genuine and specific grievances and developmental requirements of these areas.The halqa panchayats where the two-day programme started today include Lasjan-A and Lasjan-B of Srinagar block, Panzinara-A and Panzinara-B of Qamarwari block, Khonmoh-A and Khonmoh-B of Khonmoh block, and Dara-A and Faqir Gujri-B of Harwan block.In Khonmoh on the sidelines of the Back to Village proceedings the District Development Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary chaired a public grievance redressal camp which witnessed large public participation and high hopes for redressal of grievances.The camp was a part of the district administration’s public outreach initiative and was aimed at reaching out to the public of this remote area in efforts to address their developmental concerns and resolve longstanding issues of the population there.Delegations of representatives of eight adjacent villages also attended what was the fourth grievance redressal camp held in the area this year.Various issues surrounding those concerning horticulture, healthcare, education, roads, transportation, communication, sports infrastructure, irrigation among others were raised by the representatives of these areas seeking time-bound redressal thereof.The DC while speaking on the occasion said most of the concerns raised during the camp were resolvable and assured that these will be processed for execution in the shortest possible time. He said the aim of this camp was to understand the problems of the people and address on the spot interdepartmental issues that might be hindering their redressal.He said several demands raised during previous public meetings held here have been approved for execution. He said a degree college which has been a longstanding demand of the locals is being built and a revenue and a block development office are being established in the area as per the demands of the locals adding that requisite authorisations have been processed.
Dr Shahid said other concerns surrounding roads redevelopment, transportation, fire services station among others are all under consideration. He said 25 lac rupees has been provided to the Power department for strengthening power infrastructure in the area and also announced provision of 10 lac rupees for building a sports club with requisite infrastructure in the area. He said a sports stadium is also being established in the area.He also said that besides upgrading the local PHC mobile medical clinics will be procured and made available to strengthen the healthcare in the area. He said a comprehensive educational plan aimed at providing modern education with a modern set-up is being formulated and will be implemented in educational institutions in the area. He said the administration is setting up libraries in the area to enable students to have effortless access to books and relevant study material.The DC also visited Lasjan to take stock of the Back to Village proceedings being held there. He joined a public camp held in the area and while noting concerns of locals raised on the occasion authorised among others execution of road repairs and setting up of sanitation facilities in the area. He assured other concerns as raised on the occasion will be considered during the planning process for development schemes in the area.Speaking in reference to the weeklong Back to Village programme in the district he said all concerns and demands raised in all halqa panchayat will be thoroughly noted assuring that all genuine demands will be met adding that timelines for execution of requisite works will be drawn and a monitoring mechanism will be put in place to ensure adherence thereto.Assistant Commissioner Development Srinagar M Ashraf and senior officers from all line departments of the district were present on the occasion. Concerned sarpanchs and panchs were also present.
Some of the main grievances and demands for their redressal recorded during today's Back to Village programme at the said eight halqas ranged from bad condition of roads to inadequate drainage to lack of adequate health, irrigation and educational facilities to deficits in power and water distribution systems to lack of proper health and play-field facilities to lack of proper social, transport and financial facilities.Officers and field functionaries from all concerned line departments are accompanying the designated visiting officers of these halqas who will compile reports of recorded grievances and submit it to the office of DC after the end of the two-day deputation.The DC has directed the concerned designated visiting officers for thorough public interactions and field visits and complete recording of grievances from all concerned halqas. He has assured of redressal of all genuine concerns raised during the flagship outreach programme.Srinagar has a total of 21 halqa panchayat spread over four blocks including 9 in Harwan, 5 in Khonmoh, 5 in Srinagar, 2 in Qamarwari.