Citizen Centric Rural Governance and Participatory Planning in Jammu and Kashmir: An Analysis of Back to Village (B2V) Programme

AbstractRural governance in Jammu and Kashmir has evolved through distinct phases marked by periodic legislative, institutional and policy developments in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The strengthening of PRIs has played a crucial role in fostering community engagement, enabling doorstep service delivery and addressing local developmental challenges through participatory governance. Recent policy initiatives, such as Rurban Mission and the Back to Village (B2V) Programme, has been implemented to enhance community participation, encouraging participatory planning and promote doorstep service delivery to meet rural development needs. This study examines the evolution of PRIs in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on their periodic legislative, institutional and policy development. Furthermore, it evaluates two key policy initiatives - Rurban mission and Back to Village (B2V) Programme - using a descriptive approach based on existing literature, policy documents and other publicly available data. The finding indicates that recent legislative, institutional and policy developments, along with contemporary initiatives (Rurban mission and Back to Village (B2V) Programme) have revitalised public trust in rural governance. These efforts have significantly contributed to institutionalising participatory planning and grassroots institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir.