Minister for Rural Development & Panchayats, Ali Muhammad Sagar today asked the officers of Rural Development Department to maximise the outreach of rural development schemes aimed at changing the face of rural society.Chairing a meeting to review the implementation of various rural development schemes in Kishtwar district here today, the Minister emphasised on the need to ensure transparency and observance of norms while enrolling beneficiaries for these schemes.Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, who represents Kishtwar, and G. M. Saroori, who represents Inderwal constituency in the Assembly were also present in the meeting.Sagar directed the officers to ensure that there was no delay in making payments to beneficiaries as per the guidelines of respective schemes. The Minister said a number of steps have been taken by Rural Development Department to inculcate transparency and accountability in its functioning. He said a toll free number and a grievance cell have already been set up for the purpose. Besides, he said, quality control mechanism has been set up at district level and the creation of ombudsman is in process.On the availability of ground level staff in the Department, Sagar directed for convening a joint meeting of recruiting agencies and heads of other field agencies to expedite recruitment process.
The meeting was told that 2438 sanitary units were set up in the District under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan and 5000 such units have been projected for the coming year.Similarly, under Integrated Watershed Management Programme five projects worth Rs. 35 crore have been taken up for execution for which the entry point activity has already been done.The meeting was told that 292 cases under Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) were cleared during current year while 592 such cases have been projected for next year.Commissioner-Secretary, Rural Development, Farooq Ahmad Peer, Director, Rural Development, Jammu, Shafiq Ahmad Raina, Director, Social Audit, Dr. A. G. Sofi, Director, IWMP, G. A. Shah and officers of Rural Development Department were present in the meeting.