By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Dec: The Uttarakhand and Central governments run numerous schemes for the state’s residents covering health, education, employment, financial assistance, and social security. However, due to lack of awareness, these benefits often fail to reach the people. Even then, a large number of citizens have to run around the officers and the courts to obtain essential documents such as ration cards, PAN cards, and pension schemes. The Uttarakhand government is now addressing these issues by bringing services right to people’s doorsteps. Starting today, 17 December, this initiative will enable citizens not only to access information on various government facilities but also to receive benefits on the spot.
The 45 day campaign, ‘Jan-Jan ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan ke Dwar’ was formally launched today across all districts in Uttarakhand. Citizens can avail benefits through their elected representatives including councillors, pradhans, MLAs, or other officials. Notably, officials and staff from as many as 23 departments will be present in every tehsil and village to explain how people can access government schemes. This includes SDMs, tehsildars, and other personnel who will participate. Special emphasis is being placed on making the campaign effective in rural areas, with employees and officers from Panchayati Raj, Agriculture, Social Welfare, and Revenue departments setting up camps in villages, towns, and tehsils.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan stated that the government wants key departmental schemes to reach ordinary citizens directly. Camps have been organised at various locations across all districts, and these began today. Many people in the state still lack knowledge of schemes or fail to benefit from them. Camps will be held three days a week for the next 45 days, with departments visiting villages to resolve problems.
Through these camps, any person facing issues with electricity or water bills, pensions, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, or revenue-related matters will receive not just information but immediate solutions on the spot. The Chief Minister’s Office has claimed that these camps will prove particularly effective in disaster-affected areas, where arriving officials will ensure that even illiterate individuals get help filling forms and completing the entire process with personal assistance. Nyaya Panchayats will also be set up at different locations, enabling swift hearings and resolutions for legal problems or Panchayati Raj matters.
BJP has also taken responsibility to help people avail of the services being provided through these camps. Ahead of the 2017 elections, the BJP is also sought direct engagement with the public through this campaign, prompting the party to assign duties to its officials. MLAs, pradhans, and other representatives have been integrated into the initiative. Under this programme across 970 Nyaya Panchayats, responsibilities have been delegated to all ministers, MLAs, office-bearers, and officials. They have been instructed to maintain direct communication with the public throughout the camp period. Separate BJP leaders have been assigned duties in Garhwal and Kumaon regions, as stated by Mahendra Bhatt, BJP president, Uttarakhand.
