Minister for CA&PD and Tribal Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar today said effective and efficient governance at the grassroots level is vital for sustainable development.The Minister stated this while addressing a meeting to review the progress of District Plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes at Banihal. MLA Ramban Neelam Kumar Langeh, MLA Banihal Vikar Rasool, DDC Ramban Farooq Shah Bukhari, Director CA&PD, Deputy Controller Legal Metrology Jammu, besides other senior officers were present in the meeting.The Minister took a thorough review of performance of all the departments. During the review the minister ordered an enquiry into non-payment of financial assistance to the families who built IHHL under rural sanitation in the district. Taking review of the urban development, the Minister instructed to assign the charge of the Administrator of MC Banihal to SDM Banihal with immediate effect so that the development of this important sector gets impetus.Under Education sector, the minister directed the CEO Ramban to ensure providing of all accounts of all the students to concerned department for early and timely release of scholarships especially the downtrodden and SC/ST students.The Minister urged the concerned officers to fix targets within the available resources for execution of works under RGGVY-II by PDD. The Minister directed DDC to constitute a committee comprising SDM Banihal, Tehsildar Banihal and SDPO Banihal for removing illegal occupation of all the government accommodations including schools and other buildings in Tehsil Banihal.
While reviewing the PHE sector, the minister instructed the Xen PHE and CEO Ramban and all concerned officers to submit affidavits for ensuring drinking water facility in all the schools keeping in view the directions from the Supreme Court of India for making these facilities available in all schools at the earliest.Under R&B Sector, the Minister was told that a total number of 52 roads and 23 bridges are being constructed under SDRF in the district. Xen R&B was asked to submit the details of all the works along with their status of tendering. He directed that no work from now onwards shall be executed by the department itself without tenders unless there is a certificate from the district administration about the utmost urgency of the work to be taken up. Regarding the status of the schools being constructed under RMSA and SSA, the minister directed the SE R&B to complete all pending works. He said the officers would be held responsible for any cost escalation due to unnecessary delays.
Under Health sector, the minister reviewed the quality and pace of the works being done at District Hospital Ramban. He directed the JKPCC authorities which is the executing agency to gear up men and machinery keeping in view the quality of the work so that the building is commissioned and handed over to the public as soon as possible. He expressed concern about the seepage of water from the rooftop of the building and constituted a committee so that responsibility can be fixed and action is initiated against the erring officers.Under IAY, ACD Ramban apprised the minister that a total number of 228 IAY houses have been provided to ST category in the district which are under various stages of completion and shall be completed in the due course of time. He asked the ACD to release the second installment of IAY after achieving the completion stage of these households.
Later the Minister took a detailed review of the works being carried in the district for the welfare of Tribal population. DDC Ramban apprised that 99.52% of the tribal population of the district lives in the rural areas and there are 15 villages having tribal population. The Minister asked the DDC to ensure preparation of the plan for the welfare of the tribal population in such a way so that tangible assets can be created keeping area specificity in view. By this there would be clubbing of funds so that critical gaps in the development of infrastructure and other sectors like water and power are filled.The Minister announced a Gujjar hostel for Ramban and two 100 boarders Gujjar hostels at Banihal and Gool. He directed the DDC to make the requisite land available for establishing this asset for ST population at Ramban. He further asked the DDC to make available the temporary accommodation for 50 boarders at Ramban for making it available for the ST community students till the Gujjar Hostel would be constructed permanently. He also asked the concerned departments for submitting plans for skill development of the ST students for their uplift.
Regarding the status of the availability of essential commodities the Minister was told that all the commodities have been supplied in the district till March. The minister expressed his displeasure over the untimely supply of food grains and other essential in the district. He directed the AD CAPD to ensure that all the pending food supplies be made available to the ration card holders by May 30th, 2015 failing which strict actions shall be initiated against the erring officers. The Minister directed SSP Ramban to book all the dealers who have dumped their food essentials at places other than their Fair Price Shops under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Maintenance Act. He further directed him to ensure that digital weighing machines are installed and being used at all the stores besides display of APL, BPL, AAY consumers at these FPSs.
While Concluding the Minister told that the present government under the able leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is not aimed on point out at the faults by ensuring maximum governance with minimum government. He said that the success of any government lies in better co-ordination between the departments and efficient working at grass root level. He assured all the officers of full support of the government in encouraging the better practices and discouraging the faulty ones. He reprimanded the officers that there would be no tolerance for corruption and lethargy in execution of works and government is committed for overall development of the people especially the downtrodden.