Ranbir Singh Bali, Director of Finance, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department is among the prominent Government officers in Jammu and Kashmir known for his dynamism and efficiency. In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Media Watch, he talks to Rameez Makhdoomi about important topics.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Q: How were your Back to Villages programme experiences?
A: I have had the pleasure to being part of all the Back to Village programmes, and now served in every phase. We have to bear in mind that work done under Back to Village programmes is quite up to the mark. I have been deputed to Chandoosa Village and have seen how Back to the village has positively reformed the neglected villages towards positive realities and made them progressive. It has provided a lot of relief to the common masses.
Q: Your take on people’s feedback on it?
A: The people of Villages have given magnificent warmth to Back to Village programme and have had a lot of issues and problems that need to be resolved. The Back to Village programme had been an effective answer to the development needs of the masses and a solution to their problem. I have witnessed how Baramulla-Poonch road is developing as a model during this programme. I had recommended a number of beneficiaries for housing benefits via rural development and pond through soil conservation and all these works stand successfully completed by respective departments. The back to Village programme is changing the face of our villages towards prosperity.
Q: What about the futuristic realms of Back to Village programmes?
A: The Back to Village is the result of the great vision of our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and here in Jammu and Kashmir it has been efficiently and ably carried out under the dynamic leadership of Lt. Governor shri Manoj Sinha ji. This program has more than 250 schemes in it. Above all the field employees and the officers are always on their toes to get the work earmarked under the Back to Village program so that they do not get poor grades during the next Back to Village program. The Back to Village program has more than 250 schemes in it for the welfare of senior citizens water schemes and scores of other welfare measures.
Q: What about the young employees especially newly appointed ones, do they face any problems in working in visionary programs like Back to Village?
A: The younger generation is efficient and has good skills as they are well aware of the ins and outs of the internet age we live in. They are much more tech-savvy as opposed to elder ones and thus perform much more excellently in all situations. Yes on part of the experience they lack and we the senior officers provide them with that experienced input and they thus work well in a path-breaking program like Back to Village.
Q: Your message especially from the forest and ecology department?
A: My message to the general public is that we can live and exist only until forests exist. People should take part in our plantation drives and support all efforts carried out to protect the environment and ecology. Greenery is a must for our prosperity.
Q: Is the Government satisfied with the conduct of B2V Programs?
A: Obviously, the 35 participating departments were successful in saturation of 54 deliverables set as their respective targets for the program. The rest of the set 101 deliverables have also been partially achieved, In fact finally lauded efforts of the public and government officials in the conduct of the program.
Q: What is the style and plans to follow up the Back to Village Programs?
A: The Prabhari Officers from the concerned Panchayat(s) for the next year or till decided otherwise will be appointed who will make quarterly physical follow-up visits to the Panchayat(s) that he or she was allotted besides monthly virtual participation on the First Monday of every month. The first follow-up visit shall be held from December 1-15, 2022.