Pulwama: God helps those who help themselves. This is what youth of Rahmoo village from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have demonstrated.
It was in 2018 that few youth from the village floated a voluntarily group to help fellow villagers in distress.
The voluntarily youth group now named as RPI-Rahmoo Public Intrest- has become mouth piece for local populace to raise their issues with the government.
“The voluntarily group has around 400 members from different villages of Tehsil Rajpora,” Qayoom Khan, a founding member of RPI said, adding that they raise public issues with authorities for their redressal.
He said that RPI has become an important link between locals and administration.
He added that the forum takes up genuine public issues.
“The issues get prompt redressal by concerned officials who have roped into the group through various social media platforms like whatsapp ,” he said.
Aarif Ahmad, a member of RPI and resident of neighbouring Tujan village said that RPI has helped to bring greater transparency in the implementation of various centrally sponsored schemes including IAY.
He said that minor issues of their village like macdamisation of a link road, restoration of electricity and snow clearance were resolved in no time once raised through the forum.
He also added that health facility of the village was also upgraded through RPI.
Qayoom said that besides raising public grievances they also assist authorities in restoring various public utility services.
“If it snows on Saturday, our volunteers will be ready to help in snow clearance,” he said.
He added that RPI is also carrying out routine cleanliness drives for preserving various water bodies in the area.
“ We help authorities in maintaining cleanliness of springs and streams,” he said, adding that they also render community welfare services like arranging oxygen concentrators for needy patients.
Besides educated youth and intellectuals, the group has many members from Rajpora tehsil who are serving in various government departments.
