A two member team comprising United Nations Development Programme (India), Deputy Country Director, Dr Preeti Soni and Programme Analyst (Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management) Energy and Environment Unit, Ruchi Pant today called on Director Information, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary to discuss the current projects of J&K Government and explore how best UNDP could support in better implementation of these projects.During an hour long meeting, the UNDP delegates hoped to work with the State Government and enhance the livelihood and socio-economic profile of the Himalayan State.Divulging details about the programme, the Deputy Country Director and Head Environment Unit, Dr Preeti Soni said that UNDP is doing the baseline surveys in Jammu and Kashmir to understand the area and hoping to take it forward to the next level. She said that UNDP also finds substantial general differences major hurdle in developmental outcome of any area.
Dr Choudhary, who is also Additional Secretary to Chief Minister and Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), presented a detailed sketch of the Government’s developmental policies. He urged the delegates to explore the possibilities of entering into MoU with various Government run departments for capacity building.Dr Choudhary in his presentation said that there are various districts across the State which are craving for professional intervention from the organizations like World Bank, UNDP, UNESCO, UNIICEF etc. He highlighted the process and success of constructing of over 140 small bridges in Udhampur district few years back in convergence model. He said such interventions and innovative measures uplift the Government’s face and help to provide good governance to the people in far off places in the State.
Lauding UNDP’s technical assistance in the implementation of various development and welfare programmes, Dr Choudhary said skill development of youth and human resource management in school education can be areas where UNDP can support the State to put in place a better operational mechanism. He also called initiating capacity development programmes for the officials of the State Government in order to provide better governance in the State.Later the UNDP team informed the Director that their organization has had excellent partnership over the years with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in various areas like National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), designing the capacity building programme for PRIs, supporting Women’s Development Corporation in capacity building of women groups for product design besides a study has also been commissioned with University of Kashmir to develop strategy and action plan for ecological security of the Dal Lake.