‘Back to the village’ a welcome step

Dear Editor,
I would like to appreciate the decision taken by the Governor of Jammu Kashmir for organising Back to the Village programme. It is going to bring new light in the rural development. The successive governments and even the representatives of the people have always ignored the rural areas. After winning the elections political leaders hardly visit the far flung areas. They become beyond the approach of common man when elected as MLAs and MPs. Government has been very casual in empowering panchayats which is great injustice towards the poor people of rural areas. This attitude of the government has created a great resentment among the public and also the Sarpanchs and panches feel humiliation when they are unable to fulfil the promises made during elections.
I would also like to appeal the Governor for fully empowering the Panchayats and conduct the elections for block and District development boards.
This programme is going to create a new chapter in the history of Rural development. I would also like to request through this column to the officers who so ever is deployed wherever it may be please be sincere towards the area and highlight the requirements of the public. We need to be serious on it as “Ignorance of rural development is encouraging migration”. When you don’t get basic facilities like Electricity, water, road connectivity, health care and education etc one feels like to leave the place. As on to date you can see small towns are thickly populated.
It is my personal observation that most of the public grievances remain in files. Hope this exercise will be a result orientated and problems identified will be looked into seriously and required action will be taken.
Madan Lal Narad,
Devak Sunderbani.