Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj and Law & Justice Abdul Haq and Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga today handed-over cheques worth Rs 24 lakh to IHL (Individual Household Latrine) beneficiaries at a function organized by the Rural Development Department (RDD) under the banner of Swachh Bharat Mission at Vijaypur.DDC Samba, Sheetal Nanda, Director RDD Jammu M L Raina, Additional SP Samba Adil Hamid, SDM Vijaypur Rajnish Gupta and other senior officer of RDD were present on the occasion."The priority of the government is to make Jammu and Kashmir state free from open defecation by the target year of 2019", Haq said.The Minister asked the officers to ensure that all the developmental schemes are executed properly for the betterment of common masses. He also directed the officers to closely monitor the quality of the works being executed by the department.Stressing on creation of durable assets in villages, the Minister directed the officers to formulate plans keeping in view the overall developmental needs of the villages. He urged them to ensure tangible impact of the rural development schemes on the ground.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for Industries & Commerce said coordinated efforts on part of government agencies, non-governmental organizations and general masses is key to achieving the mission of a "clean India" envisioned by Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi.
"The objective of Swachh Bharat Mission is to improve quality of life by promoting hygiene and eliminating open defecation," he added.Warning the officials to desist from indulging in wrongdoings, Ganga said the government has started massive drive for making state corruption free and verifications are being conducted to detect lapses in the implementation of developmental schemes.The Ministers also inspected various development works being executed by RDD and reiterated that the quality is to be maintained while executing works.Later the Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander also distributed cheques worth Rs 36 lakh to IHL beneficiaries during a function organized at Block Ramgarh of district Samba.Addressing the gathering, Ganga said that the Government is committed for overall development of the state and emphasis is being laid especially on rural areas. He also appealed the masses to avoid the use of polythene to save the environment and avail the benefits of various development schemes of the Centre and State Government.Among others, officers of various departments, beneficiaries, Sarpanchs & Panchs and locals were present on the occasion.