The 69th Republic day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and national spirit at parade ground Kishtwar where Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhaghat unfurled the tricolor and took salute at the march past presented by contingents drawn from JKP, CRPF, JKAP, FPF, NCC and large number of students.Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana, SSP Kishtwar Abrar Chowdhary, ADC Kishori Lal Sharma besides other officers and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.The Minister highlighted the importance of the day saying that it reminds us of the supreme sacrifices and vision of great legends like Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar lal Nehru etc. He also paid tribute to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, father of Indian constitution, and said India is one of the largest democracies in the world where despite of varied cultures and traditions people live in complete harmony and brotherhood and enjoy equal constitutional rights.The Minister, while elaborating the initiatives of present government in the state, said that unemployment and backwardness is the biggest challenge faced by the state but under the leadership of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. we are working relentlessly to take the state towards new highs of peace, progress and prosperity.
The Minister said that keeping in view the Hydro Electric potential of the district the state government has started numerous power projects like Pakul Dul, Kiru, Kwar, Kirthai which will surely bring a notable transformation in the development scenario of the district and overcome the problem of unemployment to a great extent.Bali further said that the PWD department, under the schemes, like PMGSY is endeavoring hard to provide road connectivity to all the rural areas of the district. The starting of work on various new roads in Paddar, Marwah, Dachan, Warwan area like Atholi-Gossi, Atholi-Pallali, Nawpachi-Hanzal, Paithgam-Tarnai, Ikhlata-Lopara roads are some of achievements in this regard.He further informed that under RMSA, the construction work on 100 bedded hostel building at Gurez, Government High School Atholi-Paddar, Government Higher Secondary School Sarthal has been started recently while several projects have been taken up in Warwan and Chatroo areas.Expressing satisfaction over the performance of Social Welfare department, the Minister informed that 7397 cases have been registered under AASRA scheme, whereas 536 cases have been sanctioned under ‘State marriage assistance scheme’. “To promote education among weaker sections, Pre Matric scholarship has been provided to 10,917 students belonging to SC & OBC categories. In addition to it 15000 beneficiaries are being provided Rs 1000 each under old age pension and widow pension schemes” he added.
The Minister also informed that the department of Labour and Employment has distributed an amount Rs.2.20 crore among 2939 beneficiaries under Lower Education assistance, Higher education assistance and death assistance as compensation. Referring to Health sector, Bali said that the government has taken various innovative steps to improve patient care in the district by sanctioning Tertiary Cancer Centre and health centre at Marwah, up-gradation of PHC to Sub district hospital at Atholi, opening of Urban Health centre and New Type PHC at Kuleed, construction of Eye ward in district hospital Kishtwar besides posting Radiologist, ENT specialist, and Anesthetist.Referring to Education sector, the Minister said that 64 Kanal land has been acquired for Model Degree College Marwah for which an amount of Rs.1.07 crore was disbursed as compensation. Similarly, Degree College building at Padder is at its final stage, while a number of schools have been constructed in different parts of the district.
To improve quality and decrease mortality rate among livestock, the Minister said that Animal Husbandry Department started construction of Veterinary building at Chatroo at an expenditure of Rs 74 lakh and Veterinary dispensary Dachhan, while Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, during her recent visit to Kishtwar, has sanctioned Veterinary ambulance.“To ease traffic congestion in the town, work for creating sufficient parking spaces from Malipath to Kuleed chowk have been started, while road widening from Kuleed Chowk to Paddar road has also been taken up” he informed.Meanwhile, school children presented a colorful cultural programme depicting the rich cultural heritage of the state which mesmerized the audience.The Minister also distributed consolation prizes, commendation certificates and mementoes among the participants and best performing officers.