VIKAS SHARMA
JAMMU : As the preparations are in full swing on for the successful conduct of fourth phase of Jan Abhiyan “Back to Village Programme (B2V4)” in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir commencing October 27, the elected representatives-Sarpanches, Panches and Block Development Council (BDC) Chairpersons are hoping of redressal of long pending issues of the villagers in different panchayats across the UT.
“B2V4 is a wonderful initiative by the government to reach out to the people at grassroot levels for redressal of their vexed issues. Though many of the developmental works taken up with the officers of various departments in the previous 3 phases of the programme were completed but still there are many which are yet to be complete”, said Vinod Charak, Sarpanch of Sarore Upper Panchayat of Bishnah Block (Jammu district).
“In fact, during the previous three phases of B2V, I had apprised the officers about the priority works like laying of PHE Pipes, construction of a boundary wall, etc but till date nothing has been done. Computers have been approved for the panchayat but are yet to be delivered. We have requested many times to deliver the same but in vain”, he added.
Another Sarpanch of Ratnal Panchayat of Bishan Block, Kamal Singh said “In the third phase of B2V, not many people participated because the works they discussed with the officers in the B2V2 remained incomplete. So this time too, I am not that much sure whether people will come up in large numbers. We are trying our best to make it a successful event”.
“Mere conducting of programmes every year will not serve the purpose unless the real issues/developmental works being taken up with the government representatives will be done. Otherwise every year, this programme is being conducted but without any desired outcome”, he maintained.
Veena Jamwal, Sarpanch of Birpur Panchayat (Upper) told Greater Jammu “70 percent of the developmental works have been completed in the previous three phases of B2V while 30 percent still remaining. But I am hopeful of completing it in the upcoming phase”.
Balwan Singh, Block Development Council (BDC) Chairperson Udhampur said “There are many issues which are yet to be resolved and I am confident that the upcoming fourth phase of the Jan Abhiyan will be a ray of hope for the people living in the rural areas”.
“We will definitely discuss with the officers about the incomplete developmental works since the start of the programme in 2019. Many works have been completed but still many of them are pending since long”, he added.
When contacted, Mohammad Mumtaz Ali, Director Rural Development Department (RDD) Jammu told Greater Jammu “the preparations are in the final phase and the department is pretty confident about the mega success of this Jan Abhiyan B2V4.
Be it the upcoming phase or the previous three phases, we have tried our level best to live up to the expectations of the people living in rural areas by addressing their genuine issues”.
When asked about the incomplete developmental works which are pending for a long time, RDD Director replied “the department is already on the job to complete all the developmental works on priority basis”.
