Sunday 19th Apr, 2026
Srinagar, Jul 25: The week-long ‘Back to Village’ programme continued on sixth consecutive day across Kashmir and Ladakh region, drawing an overwhelming response from the people.
An official spokesperson said that in Baramulla, despite inclement weather conditions, Special Secretary Law and Justice Manoj Kumar Pandit conducted Gram Sabha at Panchayat Halqa Bandiballa of block Wagoora in the district.
On the occasion, people apprised the Special Secretary about their issues and demands being confronted by them. He said that the initiative is unique to its kind as earlier the trend was that people were approaching the officers in their respective offices for registering grievances and now it is vice versa.
The programme was also held at Panchayat Halqas of Zaingeer, Tangmarg, Tujjar Shareef, Wagoora, Bijhama and other blocks of the district. At Edipora-B in Tujjar Sharief Block, visiting officer Director Hospitality and Protocol, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, inaugurated development works of a playground in the area.
He also held a Gram Sabha which witnessed huge participation of locals. Officials of various Departments including RDD, R&B, Horticulture and others were present on the occasion, who informed about various schemes under which the people can be benefited. They also listened to the issues put forward by people.
At Dangerpora-A in Zaingeer block Special Secretary PDD, Hashmat Ali Yatoo conducted a Gram Sabha and an awareness camp. This was followed by speech by students on ill-effects of drug addiction.
The Special Secretary PDD also laid foundation stone for renovation of Panchayat Ghar and ‘fencing of graveyard in the area. He also inaugurated a playground at Government Boys Higer Secondary School, Dangerpora.
Mr Yatoo also conducted a Gram Mela in which tractors and other equipment were distributed among the beneficiaries by Agriculture and Horticulture Departments.
In Kupwara, Secretary Agriculture Production, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, conducted public interaction programme in Panchayat Halqa Sogam-B. During the programme, the Secretary distributed aids to disabled persons, agricultural equipment, job cards, and RBA certificates among the beneficiaries and also dedicated paddy thrashing machines to the Panchayat Halqa. While several irrigation pumps, sprayers, land tillers, Poly-green houses were also distributed among the agrarians on subsidized rates.
The Secretary also visited several water sources of the area and asked the officers to take initiatives for the restoration of ponds, springs and other water bodies.
For better yield and to give boost to the Agriculture sector in the area, the Secretary directed the officers to check feasibility for establishing Seed Village for high-quality seed distribution among the farmers. He also asked the officers to formulate feasibility report of horticulture nursery for high-density plantation to provide requisite fillip to socio-economic condition of the area.
Officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, SDM Lolab, Director Command Area officer and other line department officers were also present on the occasion.
In other Panchayat Halqas of Lolab and Sogam, Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg interacted with people and listened to the grievances and feedback of locals on various development programmes.
While highlighting the importance of social audit programme in Panchayati Raj, the Deputy Commissioner said it will bridge the gap in pursuing common interests of the people of rural areas to improve their overall developmental aspects while facilitating the nominated panchayat members to keep a check on the development works.
Later, the Secretary along with the DC and other concerned officers organized a sanitation drive and asked the officers to conduct such drives in every panchayat Halqas under SBM. At Bohipora, Ghulma Rasool Mir, Under Secretary, Finance held an interactive session in where large gathering of the people interacted with him and apprised him about several issues being faced by them in their respective areas.
In other parts of the district including Kulangam-A, B, Chaugla-A, and other far-flung areas Gram Sabhas were held where participants were informed about several beneficiary schemes.
The spokesperson said the Day 6 of the ambitious Government-Public interface programme “Back to Village” was marked by the holding of Gram Sabhas in various Gram Panchayats in different blocks across the Ladakh division where the designated officers interacted with the PRI members, government functionaries, prominent citizens and the local people.
In Leh, Financial Commissioner, Finance, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta supervised the constitution of a Social Audit Committee of Panchyat Halqa Saboo during the Gram Sabha held as part of Day six of Back to Village programme in Saboo village.
The Gram Sabha was attended by Councillor Phyang Punchok Dorjey, Sarpanch, Panches, women, senior citizens, unemployed youths and officials of concerned line departments.
The letter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on water conservation and cleanliness issues was readout by the Financial Commissioner. He said that ‘Back to Village’ programme is an initiative of government to strengthen grassroot governance by witnessing ground reality. He appealed villagers specially Panchayat members to actively participate in every developmental activity of village and requested Social Audit Committee members to ensure regular inspection of ongoing works besides auditing of monthly expenditure.
Dr Arun Mehta also appealed Panchayat members for timely completion of works as per approved funds before November and avoid creating liabilities as the government has decided not to accept extended works. He also requested Panchayat members to identify unemployed youths of village and guide them to avail different kinds of loans under central and state government schemes so that they could earn their livelihood.
Councillor Phayang Punchok Dorjey apprised FC about the prevailing condition of roads and uncontrolled population of stray dogs in Leh district which are threatening human lives and exotic wild life of Ladakh equally. FC asked them to submit the proposal though Council. Regarding roads, FC instructed Councillor to forward all the languishing projects to Finance department through DC Office, Leh.
The Financial Commissioner, Finance and Councillor also distributed Soil Health Cards to farmers prepared by Agriculture dept. Leh on the occasion.
At Baima village, a gram Sabha was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Secretary Tourism Rigzin Samphel. SDM Khalti Tsering Motup, Tehsilder, HODs, Sarpanch, Panches Numbarder, school teachers, students and villagers actively participated in the programme.
Taking first hand information about various ongoing developmental projects in Baima village and interacting with the Panchyat members and villagers, Commissioner Secretary Tourism briefed them about the aims and objective of the “Back to village” programme. He said that the programme aims for speedy development and planning process. He directed concerned HODs to complete all the pending works of village like road connectivity, drinking water facility, electrification, filling up of vacant posts of teachers at the earliest and gave assurance to solve their grievances at the earliest possible. Later he also inspected school hostel, class rooms and medical sub centre and enquired the functioning.
In Kargil, Special Secretary Higher Education Department Choudhary Rashid Azam Inqalabi visited several Panchayats including Gram Panchayat Gongma Minjee where he assessed the status of activities being carried out under the initiative. He also sought feedback from the people on many developmental issues and listened to their grievances.
Interacting with the PRI members and villagers Inqalabi said that Back to Village is a dynamic concept of outreach at people’s doorsteps in every nook and corner of the state in order to foster interactions between the Government and people so that the schemes and initiatives of the Government aimed at their welfare are properly and effectively implemented on ground.
Meanwhile, Gram Sabhas were successfully conducted in a number of Gram Panchayats across the district which among others included the GPs of Tambis-B, Gond Mangalpore-B, Thangdumbur-A and Trespone-B in Sankoo Block , GP Lotsum and GP Skamboo in Shargole Block, GP Matayen in Drass block, GP Choskore and Yurbaltak in Kargil Block.
Gram Sabhas were also successfully held at GP Sanjak in Chiktan block where the Social Audit Team was also constituted. Social Audit Teams were also constituted in respect of other GPs which included GP Tambis-B among others.
Saplings of different varieties of trees were distributed among the farmers of GP Thasgam-A and Tambis-B ,job cards at GP Lotsum and Sanjak, Thasgam-A, Trespone-A and Trespone-B besides Matayen in Drass Block . Plantation drive was held at Saliskote while as soil health cards and poly pots were distributed by Forest Department at GP Nam Suru.
Cleanliness drives were also held at several GPs including Tambis-B while as Women’s Gram Sabhas was held at GP Nam Suru and Sapi.
The designated officials urged people to come forward and provide their suggestions to help devise a policy document on equitable development of Panchayat Halqas in accordance with their aspirations and demands. During the interactions, the Panchayat Members, senior citizens and villagers flagged various demands like adequate power supply, resumption of languishing projects, augmentation of rural healthcare system, proper road connectivity, and initiatives for water conservation, opening of bank units and other related issues.