Joshi to now head Bhagidari programme

The Delhi Government has transferred Collector (excise) Kulanand Joshi to its flagship Bhagidari programme.

Indu Shekhar Mishra, a 1994 batch DANICS officer, will be the new collector of excise. Mishra is currently holding the charge of additional commissioner in VAT department. Joshi who was holding the post of collector of excise since 2011, will be new additional secretary in Bhagidari programme. He will look after the people-friendly scheme, its implementation, coordinate with resident welfare associations (RWAs) and will also provide feedback to Delhi Government. The Delhi Government’s service department is likely to issue order within a day or two.

Joshi, a 1991-batch DANICS officer, will act as an interface between the Government and representatives of the public. The appointment of full time additional secretary in Bhagidari programmes assumes significance in view of the approaching Assembly polls next year in the Capital. Joshi had joined Excise Department in 2010. It would be pertinent to mention that Joshi was adjudged the best Bhagidari officer in 2004 and he has been associated with this flagship project since 2005. Currently, he was holding an additional charge of Bhagidari cell.

The Bhagidari programme is considered the brain child of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to help in establishing better coordination between the Government and the people. With this scheme the government encouraged people’s active participation in government projects. This scheme was adopted in the true spirit from the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Planting trees along the banks of the Yamuna and removal of garbage from the river initially started with government officials under the scheme but soon people belonging to all walks of life from in and around Delhi voluntarily came forward to work and take part in the Bhagidari project.  The basic idea is to establish a dialogue between the stakeholders, the Government Departments and citizens groups like Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Market and Traders Associations (MTAs) in order to work out solutions to common civic problems.

Political analyst says that Bhagidari programmes has helped the chief minister Sheila Dikshit to retain the power for the third time in the city as that had helped her in establishing a rapport with various RWAs and reaching out to the denizens. Delhi Government had used this forum to trumpet it achievements and counter the opposition charges. Joshi’s full time appointment is an indication that Dikshit government is going to come out with more people friendly measures to showcase its programmes and activities, they added.

with thanks :  Daily Pioneer : LINK