The Rural Development Department, Samba has made a paradigm shift to works related to ‘Asset Creation’ and generation of employment opportunities- the high priority goals set by state and Union govts.These ‘Assets’ created shall be added to the ‘Fixed Asset Register’ of the panchayat and can be useful for providing insights for future planning. The department is focusing on execution of works in convergence with MGNREGA. Previous year, the department completed 896 works and generated 4.5 lakh mandays in convergence with MGNREGA involving Rs 20 crore. Presently the department is focusing on varied areas of activities covering all vital sectors.Agriculture and Allied activities: The Department is associated with number of activities like producing organic manure from Vermicompost units with technical supervision of Agriculture department and has proposed to construct 33 units during current fiscal under MGNREGA. The department has 316 Kanals of Panchayat land on which both fruit and non-fruit bearing plantations shall be done in consultation with Horticulture department. The department also proposes to construct 57 Fish ponds this year in which Fish Culture shall be established by the Fisheries department for the benefit of local community.
Irrigation and Water Supply: The RDD is also working towards improving the irrigation and drainage facilities with activities like desiltation and construction of new channels and 178 works were undertaken during the FY 2015-16. The department is also involved in preparing District plan for ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)’ with works like creation of new irrigation sources,upgradation/desilting of traditional water bodies,supplementating soil and water conservation works to be taken up under MGNREGA in collaboration with line departments.Dug Wells have been constructed in water-shortage areas to ensure regular water supply. The Department has proposed to renovate 89 water bodies and construct 20 Dug wells this FY. It is expected that these steps will further increase water availability for human, agricultural and animal use and will also result in boosting the ground water level in the area thereby protecting flora and fauna of the region. Besides, these 80 Flood protection works were executed last year and 189 works have been proposed this year.Rural connectivity: The RDD has completed 460 works of culvert, Kachha Road, Bridle path, Foot Bridges and other village connectivity works during FY 2015-16.
The RDD has constructed a Tractor Road from the industrial area to Madhera ST Basti of Panchayat Baderi situated besides the river Basantar. The new link has reduced the distance and helping the villagers to travel in short time as compared to existing road which was not feasible due to numerous ditches on the road.At Panchayat Katli, a community path has been constructed from School Asharam to Gowal. Here, the only existing Macadamized road passes through the Army Cantt., which is sometimes closed by the military authorities. This community Path constructed by the BDO office Samba provided the connectivity throughout the year and is the only link other than the military road , benefitting a population of 3989 people.Skill Development: The Department mulls to organize free Skill Development courses under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) scheme. Eligible un-employed candidates from blocks Ramgarh, Samba and Rajpura will be imparted training by the authorized training partners, registered with National Skill Development Council in a range of traits like Electrician, Plumber, Automobile repair, Mobile repair and others. The selected candidates shall undergo training for 60 days and after the successful completion of the course, examination shall be conducted by the National Skill Development Council.
SAGY Village: Village Sangwali has been adopted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space under ‘Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’. The Department is nodal agency for the scheme and working on comprehensive Village Development plan that has been prepared by the Gram Sabha for the components like drinking water facility, power, road, education, health and other civic amenities with other line departments.On a pilot basis, the RDD has also developed a first ever ‘Roof Rainwater Harvesting plant’ in the district at Govt Middle School Sangwali having a capacity of 20000 litres. As per BDO Ghagwal, Bhawani Attri, by the end of FY 2016-17, all three villages of Panchayat Sangwali will have 100% road interconnectivity. The department has also constructed 120 Individual Household latrines and Sangwali would be made open defecation free by December this year. There has been a positive social development in the village with police authorities reporting reduction in the number of FIRs as compared to last year.Rural Sports: To give a flip to rural sports, the RDD constructed two football grounds and two badminton courts last year. This year, it proposes to construct 2 playgrounds in every block of the district as per specifications of the Sport. Besides, 06 Badminton courts shall also be constructed in the District.Swachh Bharat Mission: The Department constructed 2244 IHHL latrines and 16 Community Sanitary Complexes during last year and this year it proposes to construct 7710 IHHL and 36 CSC. Many panchayats of the District would be made ODF this financial year.