In a first, Chamoli block meeting streamed live

Dehradun: In a move to enhance transparency and promote tech-driven governance, the proceedings of a block development committee (BDC) meeting in Chamoli's Nanda Nagar block were telecast live, allowing villagers to watch real-time discussions between officials and elected representatives. Officials said this was the "first such live telecast" of a BDC meeting in the state.The meeting, chaired by 25-year-old block head Heema Devi, addressed key public concerns, including the demand for backward class status for Nanda Nagar, as well as issues related to health, roads and education.During the session, the authorities took accountability measures against absentee or unprepared officials. Two officials faced a one-day salary cut, while others were reprimanded by 54 village heads and 27 block council members -- all broadcast live.Devi, who conceptualised the initiative, said the aim was to make governance more accessible to the public. "The idea was to help villagers understand how BDC meetings function and to assess whether their concerns are being effectively raised by representatives elected by them," she told TOI.She added that the initiative was inspired by live coverage of a recent budget session. "People could watch their representatives and see how decisions are made, which encouraged us to adopt a similar approach," she said.Devi said the comment section remained open throughout to encourage participation. "We did not keep it hidden or restrict replies, as the aim was to uphold transparency and free expression," she added.Around 300 villagers attended the session in person, while nearly 7,000 have viewed it online so far. The telecast received mixed reactions. Some viewers raised allegations of corruption in projects related to water supply and education, while others welcomed the move as a step toward greater transparency.However, some villagers said they missed out on hearing their pradhans, which limited their engagement. Mathura Bisht, a viewer, said, "The alcohol shop in Nanda Nagar should be discussed and it should be closed."