KATHUA: District Development Commissioner, Kathua, organised a meeting with Sarpanchs and Panchs of Lohai-Malhar and Billawar Blocks at Billawar where Sarpanchs and Panchs from 65 Panchayats of both blocks and district officers from 14 line departments participated. The meeting was organised to review the devolution of powers to Panchayats and lay a roadmap for convergence of various sectors at Panchayat level.
The DDC impressed upon the Tehsildars, BDOs and SHOs to regularly hold public meetings and furnish to his office a detailed resume of the issue raised regarding different departments which need redressal. BDOs and Tehsildars were directed to convene monthly meetings with 14 line departments jointly to assist the Panchayats in formulation of plans and also resolution of routine grievances.
All the Sarpanchs have been asked to come up with specific and innovative demands and models of convergence with different departments for developmental activities related to agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, sheep husbandry, social forestry and other departments. Departments have been asked to assist the Panchayats in formulation of convergence plans of various Panchayats in a time bound manner. Stress will be laid on plantation, water harvesting, creating vital assets. A one day workshop of Sarpanchs and Panchs on convergence of schemes was also announced by the DDC to be held at Billwar in September to enable the PRIs for formulation of location specific plans and activities.
The DDC informed the PRIs regular meetings will be held at block level and monthly review meeting will be held at district level where two representatives from each block will be invited on rotation for participation. He laid stress on equipping the Panchayat with planning process and innovative methodologies for better utilisation of funds and asset building.
Earlier, a meeting of all the sub-divisional and Tehsil officers was organised at Government Degree College where issues related to public grievance redressal, forthcoming Assembly elections, civil supplies and operationalisation of new administrative units were discussed.
The meeting was attended by ADDC N.S Bali, SDM R.S Charak, ExEn PHE, ExEn PDD, ExEn Mechanical, ExEn PWD , ExEn Irrigation and Flood Control, DIO Kathua, District Officers of Panchayats, Rural Development, Social Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Agriculture, DRDA; Tehsildar Billawar, BDO Billawar, BDO Headquarters, BDO Lohai, DFO Billawar and all Tehsil level officers.
