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.