Back to Village programme officials under criticism, ‘Sarpanchs back fire’

Qaiser Dar

Pulwama 06 October (KNB): Pulwama Sarpanchs together with other elected panchayat members (panchs) have been vocal against the ‘Back To Village’ programme officials for not backing their promises, made in the two prior editions, as well as the unjustified behavior towards them in the on going third edition of the programme.

BDC Litter, Lassipora, Ghulam Mohmmad Mir said he is disappointed by the lack of work and response towards the queries they had put forth to the government officials. “We understand the complications due to covid-19 situation but that shouldn’t be an excuse at all,” he added

“Rural department has worked a bit here and there but I’m really disappointed with the incompetence of PDD, PHE and social welfare officials.” Mohmmad said.

Mohammad was attacked in the past by the militants and survived it. “I’m a proud indian, I am not afraid of dying for the interests of the people who have voted for me but the government needs to take care of us. We put our lives at risk but here we are in this block and not allowed to leave,” he said.

A sarpanch in an conversion with KNB said, “We have been in Lassipora block since the start of the programme. We had requested the officials to allow us to conduct the program in our halka (Tumlahal) but they ignored us. Now they are not allowing us to leave this block, stating that there is security issue and we cannot allow you to leave. If there are security issues, why bring us here? What is the purpose of restricting us from leaving the block.”

“We were invited by BDC sir to distribute special kits among the kids at a school in Tumlahal but the concerned DSP here did not now allow us to travel and we are being confined in the block. This is very shameful! If the government can’t assure us our safety and can’t provide us security, they shouldn’t have conducted the elections in the first place,” he added.

“We want to work for the people of our villages but the security problem has made a mess of everything. I want to appeal to the Governor that please take in consideration the risk we are taking by stepping up for these posts and provide us security. I also request to the officials heading the “Back To Village” programme, to allow us to conduct these meeting in our villages since the development we all are concerned about is supposed to take place there and not in these blocks, where we are being treated like captives.”

Assadullah Mir ( a member of the panchayat) in a conversation with KNB said that it was not at all useful to participate in the previous two editions. The problems as well as the areas of scope of development, we had discussed with the officials were not at all acted upon. “ They are only toying around with us”, he emphasized.

He said that if our problems are not heard and solved in this edition, he will not participate in any meetings in future. “We are here to serve the people of our villages, to solve their problems but the officials on higher positions are taking our voice for granted,” he added.

The third Edition of the ‘Back to Village’ programme started on 2nd October and will continue for 10 days.(KNB)

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