The first leg of Back to Village phase- III programme begins today in 68 Panchayats across 6 Blocks of Kathua district, including remote block Duggan of Bani sub division.A number of activities were held in different Panchayats on first day of phase III of B2V which including Gram Sabhas, inspection of Government institutions besides mass Swachhta oaths and drives were held as the day coincides with Mahatma Gandhi Jyanti.Locals accorded warm welcome to the visiting officers followed by Interaction with PRI representatives, frontline Government functionaries and prominent citizens by to discuss and deliberate upon the core problems/issues being faced by the villagers, ways to resolve them besides finding methods to strengthen rural development infrastructure and more income avenues for the farmers.The visiting officers also inspected the ongoing development projects in the villages and obtained feedback from the locals about works taken up during Phase I & Phase II of B2V programme.In remote sub division Bani, SDM Bani Joginder Singh Jasrotia took stock of grievances of Bani Panchayat which were mainly related to strengthening the provision of basic amenities in the panchayat.
At Sandhal Panchayat of Bani Block visiting officer DSWO Kathua distributed cotton bags to the inhabitants to discourage the use of Plastic bags to make panchayat polythene free, in line with the object of Swachhta drive on Mahatma Gandhi Jyanti.At Dhar Mahanpur Block visiting officer Inaugurated road link from Shamshanghat to Kutli constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4 lac. The work was taken up under Convergence of MGNREGA and B2V funds which will benefit over 500 souls of the Dhar Mahanpur and adjoining habitations.During the day long activities, visiting officers inspected ongoing works viz PMGSY roads, lanes and drains, leveling of playfield, inspection of angadwadi centres, ration depot, PHC and took stock of newly constructed assets such as ponds, playfields, lanes and drains, etc besides listening patiently to the issues of people and assured them that all their demands will be looked after in time bound manner.Interactive session also initiated by resource persons of different panchayats who educate inhabitants about suitable schemes for the welfare including youth and women folks.