All 11 Delhi DMs to spend the night in selected villages to hold talks with residents

District magistrates from all 11 districts are set to spend the nights of January 27 and 28 in selected villages as part of an initiative to devise specific plans for the restoration and development of these areas, according to officials from Raj Niwas. This marks the second occasion on which district magistrates will stay overnight in chosen villages.

Acting on Lt Governor V K Saxena’s directives and inspired by positive outcomes from a similar initiative earlier in the month, district magistrates from the 11 districts will engage in talks, termed “Samvaad,” with the residents of the villages and neighboring areas. These discussions aim to formulate plans under the “Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan,” to be implemented by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The purpose of this undertaking is to outline restoration and development plans for Delhi’s villages, with active input from the local communities, under the ambitious “Dilli Gramoday Abhiyan,” with a budget exceeding Rs 800 crore.

Continuing the practice of spending the night in villages to gain firsthand experiences through “Samvaad,” senior nodal officers, district magistrates, and officers from various stakeholder departments, including DDA, MCD, DJB, and PWD, will stay overnight in identified villages across all 11 districts of Delhi.

After Lt Governor Saxena’s announcement on January 2, where representatives from 180 villages participated in “Samvaad@Raj Niwas,” all 11 district magistrates visited selected villages on January 7, staying overnight.

The success of the previous experience, with valuable feedback from villagers contributing to specific program outlines under “Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan,” has prompted the repetition of the “Samvaad” between officials and villagers, as directed by the Lt Governor.

The selected villages in the 11 districts include Neelwal, Madanpur Dabas, Chhawla, Bhati, Aali, Dallupura, Saboli, Badarpur Khadar, Burari, Rangpuri, and Mugheshpur in their respective districts.

On the first day of their visit, district magistrates will engage in “Samvaad” with residents of the villages and their neighbors, starting at 11 am and lasting for three hours. From 3 pm to 6 pm, they will inspect important sites based on works identified during the preceding “Samvaad,” accompanied by officers from various line departments.

From 6 pm to 7 pm, a “Charcha” (discussion) by night fire will be held with residents, allowing them to share their grievances and feedback. The second round of “Samvaad” will resume on Sunday between 7 am to 11 am, focusing on sharing the tentative roadmap for the development of the villages at different locations.

(with PTI inputs)