Phase 3 has been launched from Shermal, Shopian to resolve various issues of the local villagers

In what is being called a tribute to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 151st birth anniversary, the Jammu & Kashmir government kickstarted phase-3 of the ‘Back to Village’ programme today.

Around 4,000 gazetted officers began visiting various villages of J&K and several initiatives were launched as part of the ‘Back to Village 3.’

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, dedicating phase 3 of the ‘Back to Village’ programme as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, said, “Commencing of the third phase of Back to Village programme across J&K is the perfect way to honour Father of the Nation on his birthday.”



He said, “Back to Village is a unique and ambitious exercise by the UT Government to reach the doorsteps of the people with responsive, accountable and equitable governance is in its own way promoting values, ideology and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.”



Phase 3 was launched from Shermal, Shopian to resolve various issues of the local villagers. LG Manoj Sinha inaugurated Youth Recreation Centre and Children’s Library at Shermal. He also laid the foundation stone of 100-bedded Girl’s Hosting to be built at a cost of Rs. 306.34 lakhs.

Sinha said, “People of J&K, especially the Youth, want to tread the path of progress & development, and the government is committed to making J&K a role model of development, prosperity. We will empower youth and strengthen PRI's.”

Initiatives were launched in several villages and districts including Baramulla, Samba, Srinagar, Kathua, Kupwara, Rajouri, Pulwama, Poonch, Kulgam, Kishtwar, Ganderbal, Jammu, Doda, Udhampur, Reasi, Budgam and Ramban.

LG Manoj Sinha said, “Back to Village programme is not for one person, Panchayat or District, but for the whole UT and everyone should come forward to own it and play their important role to uplift the socio-economic condition of rural J&K.”



Sinha also asked misguided youth to shun violence and return to the mainstream saying that the government is ready to help with jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Manoj Sinha also directed all the officers to fully utilize various communication tools to spread massive awareness about the ‘Back to Village 3’ programme to reach the maximum population. Back to Village 3 has been launched following the success of phase 1 and phase 2.