Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that one hundred more model villages have been approved for ensuring sustained development of rural and far-flung areas of the state.The Minister was addressing officers during a review meeting of the Rural Development Department. Directors Rural Development, Jammu, Kashmir Mr. Shafiq Ahmad Raina and Mir Altaf Ahmad, Director Panchayati Raj, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Khan, Director Finance, Special Secretary Rural Development, Joint Director Planning Rural Development, ACDs, DPOs, Exens of both the pisions were present in the meeting.Mr. Sagar said that the government has completed the already taken up model villages and the need of the hour was to take up some more so that the more rural and far-flung areas become developed and get the requisite facilities. He said that by taken up these villages; people living in these areas will get the requisite facilities as available in towns.
The Minister further directed the officers to speed up the work on the left over Panchayat Ghars so that they can be given to their respective Panchayats. He said that these infrastructural assets are essential for the day-to-day functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) which have been empowered with the powers of 14 vital departments. “Under 13th Finance Commission, 1800 Panchayat Ghars are supposed to be completed, out of which a considerable number have been taken up and completed, the need is to complete the remaining ones as soon as possible”, the Minister added.“The officers should work in close coordination to ensure the speedy completion of the remaining Panchayat Ghars as the requisite funds have already been placed at their disposal. The bottlenecks, if any, should be removed by holding regular meetings so that the pace of work is expedited”, the Minister said and maintained that there should be no deviation from the already approved plan.