UNO Naima Khan field activities in Tanore.

On-site monitoring in development and citizen services. Md. Sohel Rana (Rajshahi) Correspondent In Tanore of the district, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Naima Khan has taken various initiatives to bring momentum to the activities of the upazila administration through field-level supervision and simplification of citizen services. Since taking charge, besides administrative activities, she has been working directly at the field level on development projects, social safety net programs, education, prevention of child marriage and drugs, and law and order situation. Its impact is also visible in the Upazila Parishad premises. Flower gardens, clean and serene environment have created a relatively comfortable environment for service recipients. Locals claim that coming to the upazila administration office, ordinary people are getting the opportunity to directly contact the concerned officials and get necessary services. Since taking charge as Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Naima Khan has been giving importance to direct supervision of field administration activities. Initiatives have been taken to increase coordination among concerned departments on simplification of citizen services, monitoring progress of development projects, social safety net programs, educational activities, prevention of child marriage and drugs, and law and order situation. According to upazila administration sources, along with office-centric activities, on-site field inspection is also being given importance. To know the real situation of various government projects and service activities, concerned areas are being visited, views are being exchanged with beneficiaries, and necessary instructions are being given in coordination with officials. Initiatives have been taken to directly listen to citizens who come to the upazila administration with various problems and complaints. Necessary instructions have been given to concerned officials so that common people can easily get necessary information in receiving government services and are not harassed. Identifying so many problems of local people, initiatives are being taken to solve them through public hearings and direct communication through concerned departments. These activities are being given importance in making administrative services easier, more transparent and accountable. UNO Naima Khan is monitoring on-site the implementation situation of various development projects of the upazila. Regular inquiries are being made about progress and quality of work of various development works including rural roads, infrastructure, educational institutions. Along with supervising whether prescribed policies and standards are being followed in implementation of development projects, coordination is being done with officials of concerned implementing agencies. If any problem or irregularity information is found, importance is also being given to bringing it to the notice of concerned authorities. Besides, as Tanore Municipal Administrator, she is also inspecting various development works of the municipality on-site. Supervision is also being done by the upazila administration to ensure government benefits for the elderly, widows and other allowance recipients of the upazila. Coordination is being done with concerned parties regarding preparation of list of actual beneficiaries and maintaining transparency in distribution of government assistance. In natural disasters or emergency situations, importance is being given to preparation and coordination activities of upazila administration in quickly delivering government assistance to affected people. In addition to regular activities of the administration to prevent child marriage in the upazila, awareness initiatives are being taken; when news of child marriage is received, importance is being given to taking immediate necessary measures in coordination with local administration, public representatives and concerned parties. In case of violation of law, besides taking action through mobile courts according to prevailing law, initiatives are also being taken to create awareness at family and local level. The upazila administration is working in coordination with police administration and other concerned departments to keep the law and order situation of the upazila normal. Importance is being given to taking action according to law by identifying various social and administrative problems including regular market monitoring, drugs, child marriage, encroachment of government property. There is also surveillance on keeping government canals, water bodies and lands free from illegal encroachment and taking necessary administrative steps to protect government property. Coordination with public representatives, government officials, teachers, local dignitaries and ordinary people is being given importance in field administration activities. Concerned people think that this communication is playing an effective role in bringing local level problems to the notice of administration quickly. Talking to local residents, it is learned that they are giving importance to the opportunity of direct communication in going to the upazila administration with various problems. However, there are also allegations that a section is sometimes running propaganda about various activities of UNO Naima Khan. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Naima Khan said, the main goal of performing government duty is to provide services to the people according to rules. Efforts are being made to work maintaining transparency, accountability and coordination in all activities of upazila administration. She said, listening to the problems of common people with importance, necessary measures will be taken according to rules. Upazila administration is working to deal with social problems along with citizen services and development activities in field administration. Local people expect that the benefits of government services should reach equally from the upazila headquarters to the people of remote areas. They hope that administrative activities will become more effective through field-level supervision of upazila administration, inter-departmental coordination and direct communication with citizens.