Minister for Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Tribal Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today exhorted upon the officers to put in strenuous efforts and complete all the projects of Tribal Affairs Department as per the set deadlines.The Minister said this in a meeting convened here today to review the progress of all projects being executed by Public Works Department under Tribal Affairs in the state.Commissioner Secretary Tribal Affairs Department, Salma Hamid, Chief Engineer Kashmir(R&B), Superintending Engineer (R&B) Jammu, Director Tribal Affairs Department, Secretary Gujjar Advisory Board, Director Finance Tribal Affairs and other officers and engineers of concerned departments were present in the meeting.During the meeting, a detailed review was taken on progress made on various works besides activities undertaken by the department including Construction of Tribal Hostels, Eklavya Residential Schools, renovation and repair of G&B Hostels and other works in the state.It was informed in the meeting that the work on compound fencing, gate and macadamization of approach road to Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) at Anantnag has been completed besides construction of boys and girls hostel is in progress.
The construction work of Girls hostel, Boys hostel and Academic Block upto first floor of EMRS at Kulgam has also been completed, the meeting was further informed.The Minister directed the executing agencies to complete the remaining work of both the EMRS latest by August 2018.Terming education as an effective instrument in growth and development of society, the Minister said that tribal and other under privileged communities need special attention and focus in this regard. “The government is committed for inclusive development of the tribal community and raise their living standards for which various schemes have been introduced”, he added.The Minister directed the Engineers of Jammu as well as Kashmir to prepare consolidated reports on the actual requirement of the funds for completion of all the projects taken by the R&B department and submit it to the Administrative department within next seven days.While reviewing the status of Tribal Hostels, the Minister was informed that the construction of Gaddi &Sippi hostel at Udhmapur has almost been completed.
The Minister directed Commissioner Secretary Tribal Affairs to visit the construction site with authorities of higher education department to assess the further infrastructure requirements so that hostel would be make functional at the earliest.The Minister further asked the concerned to complete the pending work of tribal hostels at Basantgarh and Udhampur.The Minister also reviewed the status of tribal hostels at Talwara and Mahore in Reasi district and asked the officers to complete the work within two months.The Minister was informed that Construction of G&B Hostels at Baramulla, Bandipora, Handwara, Kalakote, Chatroo and Bani is in progress besides repair/renovation of G&B hostel at Budgam is completed.The work on Tribal Research Institute at Khimber Srinagar is also in full swing and would be completed by March 2019, the Minister was informed. He directed the concerned officers to check and resolve the bottlenecks, if any for the smooth implementation of these projects.