The Chief Secretary today chaired a high level meeting of senior functionaries to review preparations for the upcoming ‘Fifth Phase of Back to Village Programme (B2V5)’. This programme, which is the flagship public outreach, participation, and feedback initiative of the J&K Government, is set to take place from November 7 to November 16.
During the B2V5, designated Prabhari Officers will visit their respective panchayats to interact with the public, assess past and present achievements, and formulate plans for the Gram Panchayat Development Programme. There will be a special emphasis on enhancing e-services, improving user experiences for wider accessibility, and gathering feedback on notable departmental accomplishments recognized at the national level.
The Chief Secretary acknowledged the previous success of the Back to Village Program, which has played a pivotal role in identifying the needs of rural areas, prioritizing public projects, and facilitating the last-mile delivery of government services. The program has also been instrumental in raising awareness about government initiatives and services and identifying beneficiaries, especially among the youth and women, for skill development and self-employment schemes. Collaborating with banks has enabled the creation of numerous self-employment opportunities for unemployed youth.
Dr. Mehta emphasized that this edition of B2V will focus on saturating self-employment schemes, advancing the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, and ensuring the success of welfare schemes, including the old-age pension program, sports, culture, and electricity availability in villages. A comprehensive booklet detailing various parameters for assessment will be distributed to Prabhari Officers. All data will be digitally collected and analyzed for subsequent government action.
The Rural Development Department will provide necessary training to Prabhari Officers, particularly those participating for the first time. Deputy Commissioners will organize the B2V program phases according to their respective district’s operational requirements.
The Back to Village program has evolved significantly and is now an integral component of the Aspirational Panchayat Programme. The Panchayat Development Index, another innovative step by the J&K Government, aims to ensure the saturation of services and bridge the gap between the government and the people.
The Chief Secretary urged the public to participate actively in the B2V program, emphasizing that their involvement is a true measure of the initiative’s success.
The meeting was attended by Administrative Secretaries of Finance, General Administration Department, Rural Development Department, Information Technology Department, Revenue Department and other senior functionaries.
