Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq, Wednesday highlighted the role of Gram Sabhas in the development of rural areas and stressed on the people to take active part in the base level institutions for ensuring desired infrastructural development.The Minister said this during a public meeting at Banihal in Ramban district today. District Development Commissioner Tariq Hussain Ganai, SSP Ramban, Mohan Lal, Director RDD Jammu Ravinder Kumar Bhat, ACD, DPO, XEN REW, PO IWMP and other concerned were present on the occasion.Later, the Minister chaired a meeting to review the performance of the Department in executing various core developmental works in the district. He was informed that 42 culverts and 33 bridges have been constructed under MGNREGA in the year 2016-17 to improve surface connectivity in remote villages of the district.He was informed that under Swach Bharat Abhiyan, the Department has also constructed 2664 individual Household Latrines (IHHL) besides 16842 IHHL target has been fixed for this fiscal.It was said that the Department is executing various works under which 42 culverts have been completed and 67 are in progress, 33 bridges have been constructed and work on 16 bridges is underway, besides 462 Paka Paths have been completed and work on 157 is at various stages in the district.
During the meeting, Abdul Haq also reviewed the block wise achievement and progress wherein the officials presented details of the ongoing projects and the Gram Sabhas. He directed the officials to conduct fresh Gram Sabhas where low participation of people was recorded.He directed the ACD Ramban to transfer GRS from one Block to another block besides organize Gram Sabha in every Panchyat for creating durable and common useable assets in rural areas as per the needs of locals.He further instructed the officers to complete all ongoing projects including, bridges, culverts, paths and other works so that their benefits percolate to the grass root level.The Minister lauded the role of RDD officers in the effective implementation of the development programmes. He said the RDD is meant for the welfare of the downtrodden people.Earlier, in the public meeting Abdul Haq impressed upon the public to actively take part in Gram Sabhas and other developmental activities initiated by the Government for ensuring transparency and corruption free system.
He also stressed on the officials to make people part of the governance by holding Gram Sabhas time to time to ensure their participation in decision making.He reiterated the Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of rural areas of the State and added that various measures are afoot to support these rural belts by creating long lasting physical and social infrastructure to ensure equitable development.The Minister also lauded the role of the Union Government in the ongoing development process and appreciated the Centre for liberal funding for overall development of the State.On the occasion, local leaders and representatives highlighted the public demands like construction of toilet complex in Banihal town, more roads and bridges for Banihal constituency, Community Hall, employment opportunities for local youth in the ongoing Mega projects and more PMAY house for deserving people.The Minister assured them that all of their genuine demands would be looked into and resolved on priority.