By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Dec: The ministers of the Dhami government will now be seen engaging directly with the public on the ground following clear directives from the Chief Minister as the state prepares to roll out an extensive outreach campaign linking each minister to specific districts and clearly defined objectives. Under this initiative, every minister has been assigned responsibility for designated districts, where they will remain active for the next 45 days to ensure that the goals of the campaign are achieved effectively.
The government has taken this step ostensibly with the aim of establishing a direct dialogue with citizens and strengthening the on-ground implementation of government schemes. Acting on the instructions of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, cabinet ministers will camp across various districts of the state over the next month and a half. The campaign, titled ‘Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar,’ has been conceptualised as a people-centric governance drive, requiring ministers not only to publicise welfare schemes but also to personally oversee the delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries. Similar outreach initiatives have been promoted nationally and in several states in recent years to bridge the gap between policy formulation and grassroots implementation, with a focus on accountability and public feedback.
Formal administrative orders have also been issued in this regard. As per the orders, senior Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj has been entrusted with Haridwar and Tehri districts, while Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi will lead the campaign in Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi. Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat has been directed to camp in Almora and Chamoli districts during the campaign period. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal will oversee feedback and implementation issues related to various schemes in Dehradun and Pauri districts.
Minister for Women and Child Development Rekha Arya has been assigned Nainital, Champawat and Pithoragarh districts, while Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna will focus on the ground-level execution of government programmes in Rudraprayag and Bageshwar. Through this assignment the government probably wishes to convey a clear message that ministers are expected to remain actively involved in district-level governance alongside their routine departmental responsibilities.
The decision is also seen as a response to long-standing criticism that several cabinet ministers remained largely confined to their respective Assembly constituencies, with limited visibility in other districts of the state. By directly linking ministers to the dissemination and monitoring of schemes, the government aims to assess the actual situation at the grassroots level and identify gaps in implementation.
During the 45-day outreach period, ministers will set up camps in their allotted districts, hear public grievances and take necessary steps to ensure that eligible individuals who have so far been deprived of government benefits are covered. However, the order does not lay down a mandatory number of days to be spent in each district, but it is likely that the CM may seek a detailed feedback from his cabinet colleagues at the end of the drive.
About The Author
