PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun/Uttarkashi
Demanding acceleration of development work in remote and geographically difficult areas of Uttarkashi district, the State secretary of the district panchayat members’ organisation and member of the Dharkot-Matholi Ward 15, Deependra Kohli met the minister in-charge, Saurabh Bahuguna and presented a detailed memorandum, which contains their demands. Other members of the organisation, Vipin Thapliyal and Jaiprakash were also present during the meeting.
The memorandum demanded that a fixed amount of funds be allocated under the district plan for all district panchayat wards in Uttarkashi district so that development work could be carried out in each area according to the local needs. Kohli informed the minister that most of the villages in Uttarkashi are located in geographically inaccessible areas, where even today there is a lack of roads, drinking water, electricity, education and other basic facilities.
He said that under the current system, the benefits of development schemes often do not reach all wards equally, leaving remote areas neglected. A fixed budget for each district panchayat ward would facilitate public representatives’ planned work to address the region’s primary problems and accelerate development work in rural areas.
Kohli stated that the district panchayat members are the representatives closest to the people and require adequate resources to carry out development work in their areas. He urged the minister in- charge to seriously consider the demand and take necessary action.
Kohli further stated that the border and disaster-prone districts like Uttarkashi require additional budgets and special policies for development. He added that migration from villages is steadily increasing, and if infrastructure is not strengthened, things in rural areas could become worse.
He also demanded the government to strengthen the district panchayats in the hilly areas, simplify the approval process of development schemes and provide special packages for the rural areas.
The minister in-charge is learnt to have assured the delegation that the government is serious about the development and issues involving rural and hilly areas would be considered on priority basis.
