By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: A project was launched in Marghazar here on Monday to ensure participation of citizens in development and decision making at village level.
The scheme will be executed in 10 villages of three village councils including Islampur, Kokrai/Chitawar and Marghazar in Babuzai tehsil. The project titled “Enabling citizens to participate in development and decision making process at village level” is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under the Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programs.
It will be executed by Islampur Cottage Industries Association (ICIA).
“We will develop uplift plans after conducting participatory rural appraisal with 300 people including elected representatives of the village councils, development experts and local people,” said ICIA executive director Hazir Gul.
He said that weekly exercises would be conducted in each village council to identify its issues, prioritise the same and make a plan.
The plan would be shared with the relevant departments for solution of the issues because the fund provided by the government to village councils was not sufficient to address the problems of the area, he added.
District nazim Mohammad Ali Shah said that it was needed to develop plans for village councils. “We are working without planning. Had we developed plans for each village councils in the district from the day first, today situation would have been changed,” he told Dawn.
The nazim also appreciated participation of people in the planning. “I am sure that the project area will be a model for the rest of village councils in Swat,” he added. Amjad Ali, a village councillor from Chitawar, said that the participatory approach to resolve issues in the area was much needed as every issue could only be resolved through joint efforts.
“I will try my best to undertake cleanliness and deforestation issues in my village council with the local people and work on it. With the participation of local people, we will solve the two major issues in our village council,” he said.
Mohammad Zeeshan, a youth councillor from Islampur, said that 100 youth form the area would collect data of about 900 households.
“I am happy that I will be part of the youth team and will collect data from every household in my village council regarding different issues,” he added.
