Excelsior Correspondent
KOTLI MATHWAR (NAGROTA) Aug 24: Highlighting crucial importance of peace and communal harmony for overall growth; Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today emphasized the need for participatory democracy saying that people’s involvement is imperative for successful development process.
“Development will remain a distant dream as long as long the aspirations of people are not solicited in formulation of developmental projects and welfare schemes”, Mr Rana said while interacting with the opinion leaders of nine Panchayat Halqas of Mathwar Block of Nagrota Assembly Constituency at a day-long Development Awareness Grievances Camp (DAGC) here.
Development Awareness Grievances Camp (DAGC) is a concept introduced by Mr Rana, MLA Nagrota, to reach out to the people and seek their suggestions on priortising developmental strategy for the Constituency
Mr Rana, who represents the constituency in the Legislative Assembly, said people’s participation in development effort and decision making is imperative. He said they assume key role in prioritizing the schemes in their areas within allocated allocations, as also monitoring the pace of work to have these completed within stipulated time frame.
“Decisions with regard to development and public welfare cannot be taken in isolation of the popular wishes”, he said adding these are required to flow from the ground itself through public representatives. He said this vital necessity cannot be ignored by not keeping the elected representatives at the grass roots level, especially in the rural areas in loop. He hoped the administration will appreciate necessity of involving the people in this task, which in turn will help in creating conducive atmosphere in accomplishing various schemes.
He said participatory democracy, which remained a focal point with the introduction of single line administration had helped to create opportunities for different segments of society in making meaningful contribution in decision making. This concept should be a guiding force for the policy planners, he added.
Responding to local issues, the Provincial President said the purpose of having DAGC is to seek the public opinion and to work out a strategy to make the administrative machinery move in accordance with urges of the people. While priority has be accorded to ensuing proper drinking water and power supply, a cohesive policy is needed to be adopted for ensuring irrigations facilities and disbursement of inputs to farming community. He also stressed the need for streamlining public distribution system so that the consumers get quality and timely food-grains.
During the camp, the participants highlighted community problems with regard to power, drinking water, health, education, roads, irrigation and agriculture in particular and hoped these would get priority attention.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Block President Sham Lal Sharma; besides Sarpanchs Anwar Khan; Balbir Singh; Ravinder Singh, Sudershan Singh; Mumtaz, Nachettar Singh, Ex Sarpanch Sai Khan, and Panchs Kesar, Master Dhruv Singh, Tejpal Singh, Arjun Singh, Krishan Gopal, Mohd. Sadiq, Dr. Radhey Sham and others.
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