Kargil, August 20: The two-day Integrated Communication and Outreach Programme (ICOP) organized by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) on the theme of Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act concluded in Kargil on Thursday. The programme was being held at the Syed Mehdi Memorial Auditorium Hall.
Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Kargil Ghulam Mohammad was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, which consisted largely of school students from around Kargil, the ADDC appreciated the efforts of CBC for organizing the programme and stressed upon the need to take such awareness programmes to the grassroot level so that there is a better understanding of what the Act has to offer to the people and how they can benefit from it.
Mohammad asserted that the stakeholders at the block level should be involved with the Act at all stages, from planning to execution, as it is only then that the Act will be implemented in the true sense of the term. He further suggested that development works should be planned in such a way that livelihood generation is given preference at all stages.
Talking about the availability of resources in rural areas, the ADDC, as per a PIB statement, said that we should try to reduce our dependence on other areas when it comes to items of daily consumption and should try to become self-sufficient in whatever way we can. He said that this objective can be achieved to a great extent if proper planning and execution of works permissible under the VB-G RAM G Act is done meticulously.
The programme also consisted of expert lectures by resource persons who talked at length about the various aspects of the VB-G RAM G Act. Haider Ali, Gram Rozgar Sewak, Taisuru Block deliberated upon how the VB-G RAM G Act is better than the acts that had been introduced in the past. He said that it is for the first time that a provision has been kept that registered beneficiaries of the VB-G RAM G Act can take a break from work during harvesting and sowing seasons when agricultural activities are at their peak. He said that such considerations had never been thought of previously.
Mohammad Towha, Village Level Worker, Kargil, talked about how the VB-G RAM G Act is a landmark legislation to ensure comprehensive development of rural areas. He said that this Act provides opportunities for various government departments to work in close coordination with one another. He added that children should act as catalysts to spread awareness about the Act and take the message to their homes and neighbourhoods.
As part of CBC’s integrated communication strategy, the programme also featured an exhibition on the VB-G RAM G Act and live cultural performances by empanelled cultural troupes.
The programme also witnessed enthusiastic participation from students who gave cultural presentations and delivered speeches on the theme of the programme. An open quiz and drawing competition were also conducted as part of the programme and prize winners were felicitated at the end of the programme.
