Srinagar: As the third phase of Back to Village programme is under process, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has stressed for strengthening of grassroots in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir government last Friday started third edition of the back to village (B2V) programme. The 10-day edition is to focus on implementation and execution of all that was conceived and achieved in the previous two editions.
A senior official said Lieutenant Governor was keen to strengthen Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir. “He has directed officers to connect the common masses through Panchayats,” the official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
The official said LG has told officers that Panchayats should play an important part to get people’s grievances addressed. “Manoj Sinha has told officers that it is not necessary that common masses should approach officers to get their grievances addressed. He instead told them to strengthen Panchayats so people visit Panchs and Sarpanches who can address their issues at their own level,” the official said.
Similarly, another official said the administration is keen to set up a complaint box in all Panchayats for redress of people’s complaints in the Union Territory.
The official said the step is being taken so that government gets feedback from grassroots about the performance of Panchayat system in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said on the directives of Lieutenant Governor, a complaint box is being established in every Panchayat Halqa of the new Union Territory. “People can give feedback about Panchayat system and about utilization of funds in various developmental works including which are identified under Back To Village programme,” the official said.
As per the official, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has also directed that a particular mechanism be adopted for opening of drop boxes installed in all Panchayat Halqas and ensure that the complaints, grievances, suggestions received are properly disposed off and no grievance remains unattended.
“Besides the complainant is being responded through letter and informed about the action taken on this complaint. District Development Commissioner shall regularly monitor the execution of Back To Village works,” the administration has directed officers.
Sources said DCs have also been directed to constitute teams in order to ascertain the punctuality of officials at sub division block level.