KISHTWAR, AUGUST 08: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma, on Saturday inaugurated a District-Level Panch Sammelan organised by Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj to sensitize rural stakeholders to the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-GRAM-G) Act, 2025. The DC also serves as the District Programme Coordinator (DPC), Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM-G).
The district level programme themed as “Uniting Gram Panchayats for a Progressive & Self-Reliant Rural Kishtwar,” was held in the Conference Hall of the New DDC Building and formed first among the series of sessions being held for 3 days. Today’s Conference was attended by former PRI members and filed functionaries from Kishtwar, Trigam, Palmar, Thakrie and Warwan blocks.
The block-wise sensitization programme would continue till August 10, 2026, with detailed sessions on the important components of the VB-GRAM-G framework, including the vision and objectives of the Act, roles and responsibilities of PRIs, preparation and approval of VGPPs, issuance and management of GRGCs, convergence with other government schemes, social audit, transparency and accountability mechanisms and other operational and implementation-related aspects.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for Panchayats to adopt a focused and need-based approach towards asset creation, sustainable livelihoods, resilient infrastructure and water conservation. He highlighted four key priority areas for rural development in the district.
He said the mission sets to focus on addressing water scarcity through measures such as the construction of check dams, rooftop rainwater harvesting and other water conservation initiatives; the development of core rural infrastructure through effective and need-based Village/Gram Panchayat Plans; the promotion of sustainable rural livelihoods; and strengthening disaster resilience in view of Kishtwar’s vulnerability to flash floods, cloudbursts and changing rainfall patterns.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed the importance of generating widespread awareness about the key provisions and objectives of the VB-GRAM-G Act, 2025 to enable the grassroots stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the new framework and its benefits reach eligible rural households effectively. He also called for greater public awareness regarding disaster preparedness and safety, particularly in vulnerable areas. He stressed the need to strictly avoid encroachment and construction activities in flood prone areas and urged stakeholders to promote awareness about the risks associated with such activities.
Later, ADC Pawan Kotwal also participated in the programme and interacted with the participants.
As per the scheduled programme, the district-level Panch Sammelan conducted today
During the technical sessions, various designated resource persons elaborated on different components of the VB-GRAM-G framework.
Block Development Officer Ravi Parihar sensitized the participants on the “Vision and Objectives of the VB-GRAM-G Act,” highlighting the transformative approach of the new framework towards employment, livelihood security and local area development.
The Ex-BDCs, Ex-DDCs and Ex-PRIs from the participating blocks actively took part in the deliberations and interacted with the resource persons. Officers and officials of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department also attended the programme.
The Sammelan provided a common platform for former elected representatives and field functionaries to understand the new framework, clarify their concerns and contribute towards effective participatory planning and implementation at the Gram Panchayat level.
Among others present in the programme included ACR Idrees Lone; ACP/ACD Neeraj Sharma and Block Development Officers from different blocks.
