Ankush Sharma
Back to Village4 is a strategy for bringing rural development in India. Initially, the concept was given by former president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and discussed it in his book Target 3 Billion which he co-authored with Srijan Pal Singh.
B2V4 proposes that urban infrastructure and services to be provided in rural hubs to create economic opportunities outside of cities. Physical connectivity by providing roads, electronic connectivity by providing communication networks, and knowledge connectivity by establishing professional and technical institutions will have to be done in an integrated way so that economic connectivity will emanate.
The Government has deployed the visiting officers along with facilators who will go to the their assigned Panchayats and will build the trust between the people and administration. The seriousness of administration regarding B2V can be analysed from the fact that these visiting officers will act as mentors for one year of these panchayats.The LG led adminstration boosting panchayats by empowering Gram Sabha will give a much needed impetus in the direction of good governance and SELF RULE.The conducting of Gram Sabhas on the 2nd day of B2V4 are Brahmastra like weapon for information sharing on programmes, schemes, good practices and matters of common interest. The feedback obtained directly during the 1st and 2nd day of visit by officials from the locals of Panchayats will help design Government schemes. It will also help in smooth implementation of government schemes like PMAY, AWAAS+, SBM and other schemes etc. The LG led adminstration Back to village program will help in providing tailor-made customized solutions by taking into considerations of local area needs.
It has been well said that the actual nation-building process begins at the bottom of the pyramid i.e to transform rural India and people at the grassroots must be empowered. The latest Circular No.36-JK (GAD) of 2022 Dated:13.10.2022 is clearly indicating the seriousness of the JK Govt towards the overall development of Rural areas. In this circular it has been said that the people must be empowered with the decision making process in democracy and in this B2V4 is an outstanding example. The adminstration is taking every single step so that elected Panchayats can be energised and can be used to redress the local grievances of people living in far flung areas of villages.
The Government has set the target of providing self employmemt to around 63 thousand people and identifying around 100 tourist spots to boom the economy at local level. In many of the ongoing events during B2V4 the Chief Secretary Dr.Arun kumar Mehta held interactions with various visiting officers, PRIs and the locals present there virtually. The LG led adminstarion is trying to leave no stone unturned for making B2V4 a grand success and fruitful program.
Conclusion:
In simple terms, it can be said that the idea of ‘Back to village’ can drill grassroots democracy more deeper and broader into the landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, B2V is also giving a sense to the people in far flung rural areas that they have a voice and that is heard out. Also ,the panchayats elected would feel empowered, especially when they saw the differrent line department officers rushing to their villages, sitting amidst them and recording their problems. All this gives a sense of empowerment to the people, a crucial and critical element in the grassroots democracy.
(The author is working as Assistant Accountant (Panchayat) in Rural Development Department, Rajouri)
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