Planning at Panchayat level should reflect people’s aspirations: DC Pulwama

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31 Dec 2025

Pulwama, Dec 31: Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Dr Basharat Qayoom, on Wednesday presided over a Mega Block Diwas at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kakapora, aimed at on-the-spot grievance redressal, awareness, registration, and saturation under various social security and financial inclusion schemes. The outreach camp saw enthusiastic participation from youth, senior citizens, and local residents, including members of the Trade Association, Kakapora Development Forum, Sanitation Committee, and civil society. Several developmental and public welfare issues were raised during the interaction. The grievances highlighted mainly concerned transport connectivity, healthcare services, road construction and upgradation, water supply, flood-related damages, and civic amenities. Key demands included the completion of SDH Kakapora, availability of essential medicines, posting of USG and X-ray technicians at PHC Kakapora, construction of an additional storey for the Higher Secondary School building, sanctioning of an additional overhead water tank, removal of encroachments along the Jhelum, Romshi, and Lathi Kol, repair of roads and bunds damaged during recent floods, and mitigation of waterlogging problems. The Deputy Commissioner listened patiently and sought immediate responses from concerned officers. He directed the Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama, to visit PHC Kakapora and address healthcare concerns. Regarding the demand for an additional overhead tank, the Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti, informed that the proposal had been included in the plan and work would commence soon after approval. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Basharat Qayoom appreciated the active public participation and said that accountability through such forums strengthened democratic governance. He directed officers to note all grievances for timely redressal and announced a follow-up meeting with departments and local representatives to review progress. The Deputy Commissioner stressed that Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) should truly reflect people's aspirations, underscoring the importance of decentralised planning. He instructed officers to ensure their presence at Gram Sabhas for effective participatory planning. He also highlighted various pension and social security schemes, including PM-SYM, PM-KMY, PMJDY, PMJJBY, PMSBY, and Atal Pension Yojana, urging eligible beneficiaries to enrol. Furthermore, the Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti, was directed to increase water tanker supply during winter, while the Chief Agriculture Officer was asked to devise an action plan for saturating crop insurance schemes like PMFBY in flood-prone Kakapora. Earlier, officers from departments such as Agriculture, ICDS, and Labour briefed the gathering on government schemes. A CSC counter was established for on-the-spot registration under various social security schemes. The Deputy Commissioner also distributed sanction letters and assets under different schemes, including tractors under HADP, motorised vending carts, vermicompost units, and other entitlements to beneficiaries. The programme was attended by Chief Planning Officer Pulwama, Aashiq Hussain Khanday; Executive Engineers of R&B and Jal Shakti; Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Pulwama; Chief Education Officer; Chief Medical Officer; Chief Agriculture Officer; District Social Welfare Officer; Assistant Labour Commissioner Pulwama; Block Development Officer; Tehsildar Kakapora; and officers from various departments.