The activities under flagship outreach programme under the umbrella of the 5th phase of the Back to Village initiative concluded today in all 136 Panchayats of district Kishtwar . The comprehensive programme in the district was divided into two rounds, encompassing all 136 Gram Panchayats across 13 Blocks.
The first round took place on the 14th and 15th of November across 73 Gram Panchayats, while the second round commenced on the 15th and culminated today, covering the remaining 63 Gram Panchayats.The Prabhari Officers led the highly impactful public outreach initiative at the assigned gram panchayats, immersing themselves in grass-roots interactions to gather feedback and insights crucial for tailoring government efforts towards enhancing village-specific services.
The VOs, including senior government functionaries Roshan Lal, Spl Secretary Labour and Employment J&K; MD JKPCC Rajesh Kumar Shawan; Imam Din, MD Horticulture; Rajnesh Kumar, Addl. Secretary Public Works (R&B) J&K; Kishori Lal Sharma, Director Estates; Mohsin Raza, Deputy Secretary H&ME; Dharam Paul, Deputy Director Information; Bishan Dass, Under Secretary RD&PR and many others, actively participated in this mega outreach, engaging with PRIs and the public.
They listened attentively to their concerns while raising awareness about various government schemes, initiatives, and policies. The atmosphere in the villages was festive, welcoming the Prabhari Officers for the second round with grand gestures. During their stay, officers, along with supporting staff and field functionaries, diligently listened to villagers, crafting the Gram Panchayat Development Plan in alignment with the community's aspirations.
The Back to Village Programme aims to bridge the gap between the people and government officials, working collaboratively to achieve equitable rural development. Subsequently, comprehensive reports highlighting the aspirations and feedback of each Panchayat's populace have been submitted to the government.
Beyond the outreach programme of the core objectives, the key focus areas included the saturation of pension cases, health camps for screening various health conditions, formulating development plans, reviewing ongoing schemes, hosting employment melas, and conducting mutation camps in each Panchayat.
Efforts were also directed towards enhancing online service penetration in rural areas to expedite transparent public service delivery. Various departments educated the public about welfare schemes, encouraging them to avail the benefits. The entire program was supervised by the District Administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Dr Devansh Yadav.
Besides, the programme's success was bolstered by the concerted efforts of numerous officials, including ADDC, Sham Lal; ACD, Manoj Kumar; DPO, Sunil Bhutyal and others.Notably, Deputy Commissioner Dr Devansh Yadav and ADDC personally supervised the proceedings at multiple Gram Panchayats, inspecting health camps and ensuring the success of the programme.
Additionally, the Back to Village programme also encompassed activities aimed at education, cleanliness, plantation drives, parent-teacher meetings, cultural performances showcasing Panchayats' success stories.Certificates, including income certificates and Ayushman Bharat Golden Cards, were distributed among beneficiaries across Gram Panchayats.
Further, the programme involved engaging youth in sports, cultural events, and talent hunts, promoting key initiatives like Nasha Mukt Bharat, Swach Gram and self-employment schemes.Visiting Officers also undertook tasks such as inspecting newly constructed houses, facilitating Griha Pravesh ceremonies, and verifying developmental works, further enriching the programme's impact.