The fourth edition of Back to Village Programme is in full swing. Like other parts of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the two-day “Back to Village Fourth Edition”, kicked-off at my home village, Heff-Shirmal. The village is some 20 kilometers away from district headquarters Shopian, and 45 kilometers from the summer capital Srinagar. It is for the first time that I got a chance to witness the proceedings of this much talked programme that too in my native village. The day started with a cultural performance by the students of the Government High School.
As the programme proceeded, the officials one by one, of different departments listed out their achievements done over the past couple of years in the village, especially since the last Back To Village Programme Edition 3. The Visiting Officer, presided over the whole programme. In this village, the government has appointed Zonal Education Officer, Imam Sahab Zone as the Visiting Officer who overall chairs the the programme and hold the officials of departments concerned before the public. “This is really a good thing. We have never seen this earlier in our life. All the department officials are here listening to our issues. I told about my problem. The officials assured that they would visit the location and get the problem solves,” said Abdul Ahad, (name changed) who is around 100-years old.
According to Ahad, such programmes must be held so that works get done. “But whatever we point out here should be implemented,” he added. Talking about the previous Back To Village Programmes, the locals said that the works they had listed have almost been executed. “The low-tension electric wiring system was renovated across the village. New electric poles and wiring has been done. Apart some lanes and by-lanes have been made metallic. There are number of works still pending like road macadamisation, foot-bridge and many other works… We expect the administration takes them in this programme and starts the work without any delay,” they said.
The Visiting Officer in his address told the people that this is the government that has reached out to you and people must take every benefit out of it. “You are paying taxes and we are getting paid. You are the real government in a democratic system,” he said in his speech while apprising the locals of the village while deliberating about the programme.
During the day one around two dozen people listed out their works that were noted by the officials of the departments concerned for execution. “This is a change. We never witnessed such things in the past. There have been works done in the past but the culture set up now is tremendous. Every department is being held accountable. The Back To Village Programme has given opportunity to the common people to express themselves freely,” believe the locals.
(Author is Development / Public Policy Professional | Journalist, Ex-Aspirational District Fellow, Bijapur, Govt of India)
