Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq today said that Rural Development Department should aim at creating sustainable assets for the public with their cooperation .“It is the need of the hour that the officers of the department chalk out a remodeled plan taking into confidence the stakeholders of the respective areas so that new works cater to area specific developmental needs,” the Minister said this while reviewing physical and financial achievements in the rural development sector in the twin districts of Kulgam and Anantnag today .The Minister was informed that in district Kulgam, under MGNREGA 1786 works were taken up in the district during the current financial year. Under these schemes, a total of 4979 job cards were provided. The Minister was also informed that under IAY, out of the target of 646 houses to be constructed this year, 345 have been taken up and 111 units were completed
Similarly, in Anantnag district, the Minister was informed that 1853 works were taken up under MGNREGA and 3083 works including spillover stand completed at an estimated cost of 40.34 . Under IAY, 82 houses were also constructed in the district during the current financial year. He was also informed that under MNREGA, out of the total labour budget of 31.68 Crore, 20.68 Crore has been made available out of which 18.90 Crore has been already utilized for various development projects in the district. It was also informed that out of the total of 10.41 lakh man days to be generate this year, 4.31 lakh man days were generated so far in the district.The minister said that schemes like MNREGA and IAY have helped to create sustainable assets in the far flung areas of the two districts and the change is visible on ground. “Both the districts have a potential to take lead in the MNREGA convergence by creating assets that cater to larger portion of the population,” the minister said.He stressed on the officers to utilize the money under these schemes judiciously and generate employment in the district without exceeding the deadlines for the projects.
Abdul Haq also laid stress on construction of roads in the areas which did not have connectivity and construction of bunds near flood prone areas in both the districts. “Better connectivity to the remote places and flood protection works should be taken up on priority basis under MGNREGA in the villages,” he added.Laying stress on bringing accountability in the execution of works in the Rural Development Department, Abdul Haq asked the officers to review performance at block level in every Panchayat halqa of the districts. “To ensure transparency and accountability, teams will be formulated in every district who will review the performance of each and every employee working in the block,” he added.The minister also directed the officers of the department to complete the works by December this year.This was the first of its kind review meeting at micro level in Kulgam and Anantnag wherein the Minister interacted with officers, VLWs, BDOs, technical assistants and engineers of every block. He also interacted with the ground level workers and sought feedback for better utilization of funds in rural areas.The meeting was attended by MLA Shangus, MLA Kokernag, MLA Pahalgam, Director Rural Development Tassaduq Jeelani, DC Anantnag, Muneer Ul Islam, DC Kulgam, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, besides officers of Rural Development, ACDs, Xens, AEs, BDOs, VLWs, GRSs and other officers of the districts.