Nestled amid the snow-capped peaks and verdant valleys of Jammu and Kashmir lies a quiet revolution—one that has redefined governance by bringing administrators to the doorsteps of villagers. The Back to Village (B2V) Programme, a ₹353-crore flagship initiative spanning five phases since 2019, has emerged as a cornerstone of participatory democracy, bridging the gap between policymakers and rural communities. Launched in June 2019, the program was conceived as a response to decades of disconnect between rural communities and administrative machinery. With a mandate to “energize panchayats and deliver governance at doorsteps,” it deployed over 4,000 Gazetted Officers—from junior officials to senior bureaucrats—to live and work in villages, listen to grievances, and fast-track development. The program evolved through distinct phases, starting with assessing basic amenities in Phase-I (June 2019), empowering panchayats in Phase-II (November 2019), addressing pandemic challenges in Phase-III (October 2020), integrating digital tools in Phase-IV (October–November 2021), and achieving ‘100% saturation’ of services in Phase-V (November 2023). Each phase focused on specific goals, from infrastructure mapping to ensuring no household was excluded from government benefits.
The ₹353 crore expenditure was strategically allocated to address regional disparities, with top performers like Baramulla (₹29.35 crore), Jammu (₹28.28 crore), and Kupwara (₹27.22 crore) receiving the highest funding due to their larger populations and infrastructure gaps. Emerging districts like Bandipora (₹8.77 crore) and Srinagar (₹1.78 crore) achieved remarkable execution rates of 98.84% and 95.12%, respectively, by efficiently channeling funds into rural roads, electrification, healthcare centers, and water supply projects. Over 10,000 complaints—ranging from delayed pension payments to water scarcity—were resolved through direct officer-villager interactions. In Kupwara, a long-pending demand for a bridge over the Farkin Nallah was expedited, connecting isolated hamlets to schools and markets. Bandipora emerged as a model district, achieving 98.84% work completion, including solar-powered streetlights and upgraded primary health centers, while Kathua (91% execution) constructed check dams to combat water scarcity in over 50 villages.
Despite its successes, challenges persist. Districts like Anantnag (68.68%) and Baramulla (62.30%) lagged due to terrain challenges and delayed contractor mobilizations. Sustainability concerns, such as ensuring continued community involvement post-B2V, remain critical to prevent project stagnation. Transparency gaps, though mitigated by audits from the Principal Accountant General, still surface in remote areas where villagers report delays in fund disbursement. Yet, the program has catalyzed a cultural shift in governance. Villagers like Riyaz Ahmad from Budgam credit B2V for community halls doubling as skill centers, while Sarita Devi from Kathua highlights newfound trust in administrators. Ghulam Nabi, a farmer in Poonch, saved his apple orchard through a repaired irrigation canal and now trains others in drip irrigation.
Looking ahead, the government plans to integrate B2V with the Digital India Mission, leveraging mobile apps for grievance tracking and AI-driven analytics to predict village needs. Future initiatives include agro-tourism linkages, skill development partnerships with ITIs and NGOs, climate-resilient solar microgrids, telemedicine centers, and women-led self-help groups. The program has already inspired states like Rajasthan and Uttarakhand to adopt similar models, while NITI Aayog hailed it as a “best practice” for rural governance. Beyond infrastructure, B2V has fostered youth engagement, gender inclusivity, and community ownership. Over 500 young “Digital Ambassadors” assist panchayats in e-governance, women constitute 40% of grievance camp participants, and villages like Ganderbal form “Citizen Committees” to monitor projects.
In Sagam, where tulip fields now bloom as tourist attractions, B2V’s impact is palpable. Farmers like Abdul Rashid credit the program for linking them to markets via mobile apps. “Earlier, we waited for buyers. Now, buyers find us,” he says. This synergy of nature and nurture—where tulips and governance bloom alike—embodies Jammu and Kashmir’s renaissance. As the sixth phase of B2V looms, the message is clear: development is no longer a distant dream but a collaborative journey. With every bridge built, grievance resolved, and panchayat empowered, Jammu and Kashmir inches closer to becoming a model of inclusive growth for the world. The Back to Village Programme is not just a policy—it’s a promise kept to the people, proving that listening, learning, and acting together can transform lives, one village at a time.
