Gram Panchayats fast becoming center of fulfillment of expectations and needs
Saturday - September 11, 2021 10:51 pm ,
Category : MADHYA PRADESH
Flood relief and rescue work on war footing restores normal life
Bhopal 11 September 2021: In Panchayati Raj, Gram Panchayats are the main axis of the rural areas. The role of Panchayats in the all-round development of the villages cannot be ignored. Be it development issues or times of crisis, Panchayats play their role in a most impartial way. In the month of August, some areas of Madhya Pradesh faced the challenge of floods due to excessive rainfall. During this period, the promptness with which the relief and rehabilitation works were carried out by the Gram Panchayats to restore normalcy at the Panchayat level became an example in the works done so far. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department worked on a war footing from the state level to the panchayat. As a result, immediate relief and rescue operations were carried out in thousands of villages in about a dozen districts and a large number of flood-affected families could be rehabilitated.
There was heavy damage due to severe floods in about a dozen districts of the state in early August. Maximum damage was caused by floods in Shivpuri, Sheopur, Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Datia, Ashoknagar, Guna and Vidisha districts. The extent of devastation was such that a large number of roads, bridges, houses collapsed, crops were destroyed, cattle were swept away. Common roads were clogged. Lakhs of people were rendered homeless due to the loss of household items and houses collapsed. During heavy rains, the administration was faced with the difficult challenge of contacting people trapped in the floods, rescuing them and taking them to the relief camps.
Roads and bridges collapsed, roads and fields were flooded with water. Due to the fast flow of water in the rivers, it was not possible to reach the villages on foot and even by boats. Due to uprooted power lines, connectivity got disrupted in villages as mobiles got discharged due to power supply shutdown. In such a situation, it was neither possible to reach the flood affected villages, nor was communication possible through mobile phones. Lakhs of families became helpless in this disaster. At such a time, the state government made all-Round efforts to help the flood affected people and brought them out safely. Along with the state government, the Panchayats also played an important role in the rescue and relief operations while fulfilling their responsibilities.
Under such adverse conditions, the Panchayat level staff started relief and rescue work on humanitarian grounds rather than considering it their official responsibility. Panchayat secretaries, Rozgar Sahayaks, self-help group members tried to reach the flood affected with the help of other departments, public representatives and villagers. In the whole process, the sensitive behavior and empathy of the Panchayat personnel was a great solace to the people and gave them the way to overcome the utter despair of devastation.
In adherence to the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Rural Development Department immediately started the work of rehabilitation and reconstruction through Panchayats. First of all the people trapped in the floods were evacuated and taken to safer places. Arrangements were made for their food, treatment etc. in the relief camps. Cooked food was provided by women of self-help groups in relief camps and temporary houses made of tarpaulins etc. Repairing of broken roads, arrangement of drainage of water from houses and common roads, clean drinking water, disposal of dead animals, removal of debris and mud filled in houses and removal of dirt from villages were done at a fast pace.
With this arrangement, the work of assessment and repair of damages was started. In this hour of calamity, the image of Panchayat workers and Panchayati institutions has changed due to the work done seriously by them keeping humanity in mind. Gram Panchayats are now being known as service provider and for their cooperation. Not only this, the Gram Panchayats are now also becoming successful in becoming the center of fulfillment of the expectations and needs of the villagers.
The Rural Development Department immediately started the construction work of roads, paths, bridges, culverts, small and big ponds, houses etc. in the flood affected districts through Gram Panchayats. Many of these works are now nearing completion. The Panchayats made diligent efforts to restore the lives of people devastated by the tragedy. The selfless work of Panchayat Secretaries and Rozgar Sahayaks along with all other departmental officers, employees, group members, public representatives with the spirit of cooperation and service to bring immediate relief to the people, changed their outlook towards the Panchayats. Now Panchayats are becoming the center of fulfillment of the aspirations and needs of the villagers. With their increasing resources and competence over time, a positive image of Panchayats is being developed – Window to News
