Tuesday, 21 June 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Public involvement is vital for strengthening the Panchayats. Inter-departmental coordination is necessary to ensure that correct and complete information about governmental schemes reaches the villages. The Union minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh said this while presiding over a meeting with officials of the departments concerned here on Monday.
Along with the State’s Rural Construction and Panchayati Raj minister Satpal Mahraj, Singh ascertained the progress being made in works of the departments concerned while also issuing necessary directions. When Maharaj raised the subject of poor quality of roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Union minister said that he had instructed the officials concerned that public participation and transparency are vital in construction of roads. Directions should be sought from Panchayat representatives, MPs and MLAs regarding this. Singh said that it is vital that information about schemes of the Central and State governments reach the Gram Panchayat level, while also directing officials to ensure that transparency and public involvement is also ensured. He directed Panchayat officials that the foundation day of Panchayats should be celebrated. During such events, information should be provided to the public about schemes being executed for the general public and the manner in which their benefit can be derived.
Maharaj said in the meeting that a mobile phone application should be developed to inform farmers about the weather so that they can prepare accordingly. The Union minister expressed dissatisfaction at only 3,189 candidates out of 9,727 being provided employment under Deendayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Vikas Yojana. He said that the remaining candidates should be linked to employment soon. He directed Panchayat department officials to draft stories of successful women in various villages and tell these to the public. Addressing officials of the Watershed Management department, he said that arrangements should be made for tree plantation on barren land. After preparing a pilot project, departmental officials should discuss to ascertain where fruit and other trees need to be planted.
