Vikas Express rolls: Narsinghpur admin at villagers’ doorstep to resolve issues

Sravani Sarkar

NewsBits.ins

Narsinghpur: It was an unusual scene at Murgakheda village, situated in rough terrain on the banks of Narmada in Narsinghpur district. A big bus rolled down the narrow lanes of the village and government officials got down one by one, led by no other than the district collector Dr RR Bhonsle and district panchayat CEO Pratibha Pal.

The officers took seats at hurriedly arranged meeting place near local school and started enquiring about the problems and issues faced by the villagers. The collector personally spurred the villagers to speak out and slowly issues trickle out.

From disconnection of power supply (due to non-payment of bills) to irregular visits of ANM and school teachers, the villagers spoke out on many issues and the collector kept directing the concerned officials (present at the spot) to take due action.

Though the advance movement of some local officials had hinted the villagers about some activity, they had never imagined that the top officials of district would land at once in their village and listen to resolve their issues on spot.

But one by one, the villages in Narsinghpur district are getting similar surprise some or other Friday, as the top officials of the district representing various government departments land up at their village and take up their issues to resolve.

This is part of the new initiative ‘Vikas Express’ launched by the district administration in October 2016 with a view of improving administration and service delivery to people. Under the initiative, on any two Fridays of month, the officials go together to two or three selected villages to resolve issues.

Officials of health, education, rural development and panchayat, public health engineering, agriculture, tribal and SC welfare, civil supplies, public works department, social justice, electricity board and others accompany the collector and ZP CEO on the trip.

“The initiative not only gives us direct connect with the rural people, but also an idea on the real issues dogging the people and the status of the welfare schemes and their service delivery. It is then easier to prioritise the works that need to be done. Like at present we feel that power supply situation and health services need better implementation,” collector Dr Bhonsle said while talking to NewsBits.in.

He further said that the trip together to villages in a single vehicle has improved the coordination and camaraderie between the district officials, thereby improving implementation of welfare works.

District renewable energy officer Prabhat Kumar Kanoje said that the use of single vehicle also gives out message of fuel conservation and environment protection.

Rajni Vanshkar, a resident of Murgakheda said that it came as pleasant surprise to them that such senior officials visited their village and had resolved issues immediately. Prior of Murgakheda, the team went to Amoda village.

Communication specialist of UNICEF MP, Anil Gulati said “This is a nice community outreach initiative, which brings people closer to services. The need is to sustain the effort.” UNICEF supports Narsinghpur district administration especially in sanitation initiative.