Jammu :Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu in collaboration with All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference organised a day-long workshop on ‘awareness building’ among elected Panchayat representatives and community leaders regarding centrally-sponsored schemes for rural areas at village Jindrah today.
The workshop was held under Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and was organised as an extension and outreach initiative of the University to reach out the people at grassroots level while taking a cue from the J&K government’s flagship 'Back to the Village' programme.
Dr. Vivek Sharma, Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Lifelong Learning/Rural Development, University of Jammu who conceptualised and coordinated the programme briefed the audience about the objective of organising this programme and said it was aimed at bridging the gap between the achievable and achieved goals of development, taking governance to doorsteps of the people in rural and inaccessible areas and generate credible and empirical feedback, thereby ensuring participatory planning a reality.
“Mahatma Gandhi has said that ‘India lives in its villages’ as around 70% of the population still lives in villages and thus, the government of India’s budget is rural centric with an Budgetary outlay of Rs. 1, 19,874.43 crores under the Ministry of Rural Development for the financial Year 2019-20”, Dr Sharma said while elaborating about various centrally sponsored schemes for rural areas.
In his address, Sudershan Kumar, Director Rural Development, Jammu, who was the chief guest and the Special Resource Person on the occasion, extended gratitude towards the University of Jammu for organising such a meaningful community interaction.
He categorically referred to the formulation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan, which he said is a holistic Plan involving 21 departments.
“The people should first make themselves aware about the schemes only then they would be able to formulate their plan and thus ensuring their participation in rural development,” he said, adding that the government’s focus is upon the implementation of zero cost work which includes 100 percent school enrolment of children and 100 percent immunization of the new born and has immense and long term impact on the society.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishav Pratap Singh, Block Development Officer (BDO) Dansal highlighted various developmental schemes and developmental works being implemented by the rural development department in the area. He also addressed to the queries of the Sarpanches, Panches, Community leaders and the people of Jindrah.
Anil Sharma, UT President, AJKPC thanked the Director Rural Development for sharing vital information with the local people which, he said, would prove to be of immense importance for the social and economic upliftment of the people.
Vijay Sharma, Inspector, Department of Rural Development, Block Dansal conducted the proceedings on the occasion. Hundreds of Sarpaches, Panches, community leaders and people from block Dansal were present on the occasion.