Omkar Dattatray
In Jammu and Kashmir ,the 5th phase of the much publicized Back to Village Programme (B2V) begun on 7,November 2023 and it will last up to 16,November.This edition of B2V focused on saturation of self-employment schemes ,progress on implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission ,saturation of welfare schemes including old-age pension scheme ,sports ,culture ,progress on achievement of deliverables ,availability of electricity in villages along with the host of other things .An official spokesman said that during the 10 day programme ,officers would visit their assigned Panchayat areas and undertake a review of previous and current year deliverables .Jammu and Kashmir chief Secretary A K Mehta chaired a meeting on Sunday to review the preparations for the fifth phase of the’ Back to Village'(B2V) Programme which is scheduled to start in the UT from November 7.In this regard ,officers are visiting their assigned Panchayat areas and are undertaking review of previous and current year deliverables .They are laying the groundwork for next year’s Gram Panchayat Development Programme with special focus on improving the penetration of e-services .Addressing the meeting ,the chief Secretary observed that the previous edition of the B2V programme helped in collating the requirements of the villages and prioritizing works of public importance ,helping the government in ensuring the last-mile delivery of various services .They also helped in the identification of beneficiaries for skill development and self -employment schemes .The CS stressed that the current edition of B2V shall focus on the saturation of self-employment and welfare schemes ,implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission along with the host of other parameters for which a booklet is being circulated among the officers concerned .The entire data will be collected digitally and analyzed for consequential action at the relevant levels of the government .The spokesman said that RDD shall provide the requisite training to the officers who will be undertaking this programme for the first time .Mehta appealed to the public to participate in the B2V programme .The programme is being conducted up to 16th of November during which the Prabahari officers are visiting their respective panchayats and are staying there for a specific period and are interacting and taking feedback from the gross -roots so as to tailor government efforts in improving the delivery of village specific services .It is an initiative to take the administration to the doorsteps of the people across 4,483 panchayats to address genuine development -related and other needs of the people .The B2V Programme is aimed at involving the people and government officials in a joint effort to deliver the mission of equitable development in rural areas .The Back to Village Programme is the flagship public outreach ,participation and feedback programme of the UT government .During the programme ,the Prabhari officers will visit their respective Panchayats and interact with the public and undertake review of previous and current deliverables ,preparation of next year Gram Panchayat Development Programme with special focus with respect to improving e-services penetration ,user experience for greater accessibility and usage by citizens at large besides feedback on various notable achievements of departments recognized at the national level .This edition of B2V shall among others focus on saturation of self-employment schemes ,progress on implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission ,saturation of welfare schemes including old-age pension schemes ,sports ,culture ,progress on achievement of deliverables ,availability of electricity in villages along with host of other parameters for which booklet is being circulated to Prabhari officers .The entire data will be collated digitally and will be analyzed for consequential action at relevant levels of the government .The key objective of the programme is saturation of services and bridging the gap between government and people. Chief secretary Dr A K Mehta on Monday chaired a high level meeting of senior functionaries of the government of Jammu and Kashmir to review preparations for Fifth Phase of Back to Village Programme which is J&K governments flagship public outreach programme and serves as a robust tool for participation of people in governance .The announcement in regard to the conducting of B2V5 programme was made at a high level meeting of the senior functionaries of the Jammu and Kashmir government chaired by Dr A K Mehta .Chief secretary said that the previous B2V also helped in identification of beneficiaries especially youth and women for availing skill development and self employment schemes .In collaboration with banks substantial number of unemployed youth has been provided self-employment opportunities .The deputy commissioners shall do the phasing of B2V5 in their districts as per the operational requirements .The Back to Village Programme has come a long way and is now a component of Aspirational Panchayat programme .The Panchayat Development Index is another innovation being implemented by J&K government .The key objective of the programme is saturation of services and bridging the gap between the government and people .He appealed for overwhelming participation of public in B2V5 programme,as it serves as a true measure of the initiatives success .Further all officers were strongly encouraged to actively participate in B2V5 activities to achieve the specific objectives set for this phase .In short the B2V5 programme is a way to connect ,interact with the people by the concerned officers by going to the doorstep of the people and solve the issues and problems of the people and involve the people at the gross root level and to take feedback from the public in order to improve the facilities available to the people .It is hoped that this fifth phase of the Back to Village programme will deliver best to public by bringing administration to the door step of the people .This is real democracy in practice and these programmes should be encouraged and the general public should participate with zest and zeal in such programmes aimed at the betterment of people.\
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist).
