Srinagar, Sept 14: Terming the Back to Village programme as historic, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha remarked that the administration is committed to give transparent and people centric governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference at Raj Bhawan’ s Auditorium, the Lt Governor said that in June 2019, the J&K government embarked on the Back to Village programme, a unique and ambitious exercise for enabling government at the doorsteps of people.
“As we are aware that this exercise involved the visit of over 4000 Gazetted officers of J&K to each and every Panchayat and spending two days and a night there. It was also an opportunity to support and strengthen the newly constituted Panchayats,” Lt Governor told the media persons here.
The Lt Governor observed that the programme was a big success as there was a free and frank discussion on issues, problems, and complaints. “People participated enthusiastically and it was almost a festive atmosphere,” he recalled the flagship programmes two earlier phases.
Not only this, the Lt Governor added, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a special mention of it in his “Man Ki Baat”, calling it “festival of development, public participation and public awareness and again made a mention of the programme in his Independence Day speech of 2020.
Giving the background of the second phase of B2V, the Lt Governor said that encouraged by the success of the programme, the government organized the B2V2 programme in November 2019.On the occasion, the focus was on ensuring that funds and functions devolved to the Panchayats were used without any bottlenecks and that beneficiary oriented schemes actually reached to the last person.
“We have planned the 3rd version of the programme Back to Village–3 B2V3 from October 2nd to 12th and it shall be far more advanced, action packed and ambitious than its predecessors. It shall be an action programme in order to build on and resolve the issues raised earlier,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor further said the actual programme shall be preceded by a three week long Jan Abhiyan (Awami Muhim) phase with three important component viz Adhikar Abhiyan(Muhim Barai-e-Haqooq)-Service Delivery and 100% saturation of beneficiary scheme; Unnat Gram Abhiyan (Dehi Taraqiyati Muhim)- Mega Development push at the ground level and Jan Sunwai Abhiyan (Awami Sunwai Muhim) – Public Grievance Redressal.
Enumerating the salient features of the pre-B2V-3 programme, Lt Governor Sinha said that during the Jan Sunwai Abhiyan (Awami Sunwai Muhim) phase, a Block Diwas (Youm-e-Block) shall be organised in every block/sub division headquarter on every Wednesday of a week when all departmental functionaries shall be available at a notified place with all supporting staff and equipment to ensure immediate on the spot disposal of applications and redressal of grievances.
“Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police and senior district officers to personally visit each block/sub divisional headquarters over the three-week Jan Abhiyan(Awami Muhim)period (September 10 to October 1, 2020) and public hearing daily from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 am for 5 days a week by DCs and SPs,,” he said. The Lt Governor further stressed on to address public grievances religiously and visit all subdivisions on rotational basis by DCs, SPs and designated Additional Deputy Commissioners and Additional Superintendents of Police for larger reach of the Jan Abhiyan.
The Lt Governor informed that the government has also launched the JKIGRAMS- Jammu and Kashmir Integrated Grievance Redress and Monitoring System to completely revamp, strengthen and decentralize the existing Grievance mechanism.
The Lt Governor directed all administrative secretaries to visit their allotted districts and review the Muhim and guide the DCs.
“As part of Unnat Gram Abhiyan (Dehi Taraqiyati Muhim)- B2V1/B2V2 demands shall be prioritised for execution. It shall be ensured that at least 2 major works identified as demands/ priorities during B2V1/B2V2 are completed before October 2, 2020. Over Rs 400 crore have already been authorised for the same,” he noted.
Informing about the Adhikar Abhiyan(Muhim Barai-e-Haqooq), the Lt Governor said it focuses on service delivery and 100% saturation approach towards individual beneficiary oriented schemes and issuance of important certificates such as Domicile, SC, ST, ALC etc. certificates, Pensions, scholarships. Aadhar cards, KCC, Gold Cards, JK health scheme cards, MGNREGA wage payments, PMAY sanctions and 1st installments, PM KISAN, Labour cards, PM Matrutva Vandana Yojana, Construction Workers’ Welfare Board benefits, Scholarship applications for students and other important beneficiary oriented schemes, revenue services, documents issuance which the DCs may consider appropriate.
The Lt Governor elucidated that the 21 day action packed Jan Abhiyan shall culminate into a 10 day B2V-3 programme where the experiences and achievements of the preceding weeks shall be collated. As in B2V1 and B2V2, over 4200 officers will visit each and every Panchayat but this time they will assess the action taken on B2V1 and B2V2 issues and progress during the Awami Muhim or Jan Abhiyan.
“To my mind, this flagship practice is the first such attempt at a concentrated and determined developmental push” the Lt Governor said and further added: “I am confident that this unique effort shall earn the respect of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that it will be remembered for long as a unique and sincere effort of the government to reach out to the door steps of the people.”
Later, the Lieutenant Governor issued various necessary directions to all the Deputy Commissioners for the smooth and successful conduct of the flagship programs, through Video conferencing from Raj Bhavan.
The Lt Governor maintained that the government is committed to empower villages. He directed the DCs to ensure that people themselves decide and government machinery acts as a facilitator in the overall developmental process.
The Lt Governor exhorted that people should not face any difficulty in accessing the services of the government. The Lt Governor also set the timeline of September 30, 2020 for saturation of individual beneficiaries of all Centrally Sponsored Social Assistance and Welfare schemes.
Those present at the video conference meeting included Advisor to Lt Governor, Sh RR Bhatnagar; Chief Secretary, Sh BVR Subrahmanyam; Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education department, Sh Atal Dulloo; Principal Secretary, Information and PDD, Sh Rohit Kansal and Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Sh Nitishwar Kumar, Deputy Commissioners and other officers.
