Dr. Jitendra Singh Holds Janata Darbar in Basantgarh, Announces ₹32L Shed
Synopsis
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh held a Janata Darbar in Basantgarh, Udhampur on 18 October 2026, resolving grievances on the spot, announcing a ₹32 lakh passenger shed jointly funded by MP and MLA allocations, and pledging to extend such darbars to block and panchayat levels across the constituency.
Key Takeaways
Jitendra Singh chaired a Janata Darbar in Basantgarh, Udhampur district on 18 October 2026 , hearing individual and collective grievances.
Several complaints were resolved on the spot ; pending cases were given directions for time-bound disposal .
A passenger shed worth ₹32 lakh was announced — ₹16 lakh from MPLAD funds and ₹16 lakh from MLA Sunil Bhardwaj .
A full account of completed development works in the panchayat under MP funds was shared publicly at the event.
DC Anant Dwivedi and senior officers from multiple departments were present, giving the darbar direct administrative authority.
The minister pledged to extend Janata Darbars to block and panchayat levels to reach remote populations across the Udhampur constituency.
Deep in the hills of Udhampur district, residents of Basantgarh got something rare on Sunday, 18 October 2026 — their Union Minister at their doorstep, listening. Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also represents the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, chaired a Janata Darbar (public grievance hearing) in Basantgarh, resolving several complaints on the spot and directing officials to clear pending cases within a fixed timeline.
On-the-spot resolutions and a ₹32 lakh infrastructure pledge
The minister heard grievances both individually and collectively, ensuring no voice in the gathering went unheard. A highlight of the event was the announcement of a passenger shed to be built at a total cost of ₹32 lakh — ₹16 lakh to come from MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds and the remaining ₹16 lakh contributed by local MLA Sunil Bhardwaj. A detailed account of all small and large development works already completed in the panchayat using MPLAD funds was also shared with the gathering — a measure of transparency that is still far from routine in constituency outreach.
The MPLAD scheme, which has been operational since 1993, allows Members of Parliament to recommend small-scale infrastructure projects in their constituencies from a central government allocation. The Basantgarh passenger shed announcement is one such project, combining MP and MLA funds in a joint commitment to local infrastructure.
Who was in the room — and why it matters
DC Anant Dwivedi, senior officers from multiple government departments, and local leaders including Arun Gupta, Kewal Parihar, Pooja Thakur, Kasturi Lal, youth leader Shahpan Singh, and senior leader Beant Gupta and Hansraj ji were all present. The presence of a district collector and departmental heads alongside elected representatives signals this was more than a symbolic exercise — it was a functioning grievance-redress assembly with administrative authority in the room to act.
Taking the darbar to the grassroots — block and panchayat levels next
Dr. Singh made clear this is the beginning of a series, not a standalone event. He stated that such Janata Darbars would be held not just at the district level but progressively at block and panchayat levels, specifically to reach residents of remote areas within the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency. The goal, he said, is to ensure that people living far from urban centres can have their problems heard close to home and resolved through time-bound action.
For a constituency that spans challenging Himalayan terrain in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing government to the village rather than asking villagers to travel to government offices is both a practical and a political statement. The next round of darbars — at finer administrative levels — will test whether the promise becomes a pattern.
Point of View
But Dr. Singh's move to push them below the district level — to blocks and panchayats — reflects a sharper awareness of the access deficit in Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous terrain. Combining MP and MLA funds in a single infrastructure announcement also signals an effort to project cross-institutional coordination in a Union Territory where governance optics matter. The real test will be whether the block- and panchayat-level darbars materialise on a regular schedule, converting a promising gesture into a replicable model of last-mile governance.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Janata Darbar and what happens there?
A Janata Darbar is a public grievance hearing where an elected representative or official listens to citizens' problems directly. At the Basantgarh darbar, Dr. Jitendra Singh resolved several issues on the spot and directed officials to clear pending cases within a fixed time.
What was announced at the Basantgarh Janata Darbar?
A passenger shed worth ₹32 lakh was announced — ₹16 lakh from Dr. Singh's MPLAD funds and ₹16 lakh contributed by local MLA Sunil Bhardwaj.
What is the MPLAD scheme?
The Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme, in operation since 1993, allows MPs to recommend small-scale infrastructure projects in their constituencies using centrally allocated funds.
Will more Janata Darbars be held in Udhampur constituency?
Yes. Dr. Singh announced that such darbars will be held not just at the district level but also at block and panchayat levels so that residents of remote areas can have their grievances heard closer to home.
Who attended the Basantgarh Janata Darbar with Dr. Jitendra Singh?
MLA Sunil Bhardwaj, DC Anant Dwivedi, senior departmental officers, and local leaders including Arun Gupta, Kewal Parihar, Pooja Thakur, Kasturi Lal, Shahpan Singh, Beant Gupta, and Hansraj ji were present.
