Village-Level Committees (VLCs) in Poonch District
The administration in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district has decided to establish Village-Level Committees (VLCs) to assess damage from recent cross-border shelling.
Composition and Function of VLCs
- Formed with officials from multiple departments: Revenue, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Jal Shakti, Public Works, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
- The committees are tasked with visiting affected areas to document and verify the damage to structures.
- Damage classification:
- Full
- Severe
- Partial
- Categorization of structures:
- Private property
- Commercial
- Government-owned
Verification and Documentation Process
- Emphasis on swift and transparent verification to aid timely assistance for affected families.
- Departments instructed to fully cooperate with VLCs for accurate documentation, using photographic and written evidence.
- Progress to be reviewed in follow-up meetings to address challenges and expedite responses.
"Report to Support" Initiative
- A campaign launched to ensure that all losses are reported and no affected family is overlooked.
- Tehsil-wise WhatsApp numbers provided for residents to report damage to property or livestock directly.
- This initiative complements on-ground verification, ensuring comprehensive reporting.
Impact of Shelling
Poonch district was severely affected, with 13 fatalities and extensive property and livestock damage reported following Pakistan's shelling after India's Operation Sindoor.
