Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today reiterated the Government’s resolve to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions as part of the larger vision of decentralization of powers. He said strengthening of PRIs will ensure that people at the grassroots level are included in day-to-day governance and formulation of developmental policies.The Dy CM was addressing a public grievances redress camp at Siot in Rajouri after laying the foundation stone of 1x50MVA 132/33KV Grid Station. The grid station was the long-pending demand of the people of the area.The grid station to be constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore and it will ease the load of Kalakote and Rajouri grid stations. The commissioning of the grid station will augment the electricity supply to Nowshera constituency, parts of Khour constituency of Jammu district and parts of Pouni area of Reasi district.“We believe in decentralization of power as a means to empower people at grassroots level”, the Dy CM said and added to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions as part of our vision to empower local governance bodies, we amended the Panchayat Raj Act.“With the implementation of this Act there will be flow of power to the lower strata of the society. People should elect the well qualified and honest persons so as to translate the government vision of decentralization of powers in real spirit,” he said.
Mr Singh said the country and the state can develop only when there is devolution of powers to the grassroots level. "Empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions will give a boost to the developmental process and will bring transparency and accountability in the system,” he said.Expressing satisfaction over the coalition government’s performance during the last two years, the Dy CM said that in spite of the Kashmir unrest and demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, government has made huge progress and a tremendous change is visible at the ground level. “Many important road projects have been completed in this region and work is going on many other projects which will connect many other areas of this region,” he said. Besides, the state sector, share of the funds received under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna will further strengthen the road network of the state. “The government is committed to connect every nook and corner of the state with better road connectivity”, he said. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Jammu region is emerging as a major education hub with the setting up of IIT, IIMC and IIM.
He said that the students of the area as well as the adjoining states would be getting quality educational facilities in the region.“Major thrust has also been on the upgradation and augmentation of tourism related infrastructure so that the region comes up on the tourist map of the country,” he maintained During the redressal camp, deputy Chief Minister gave patient hearing to the problems of the people and passed necessary instructions to the concerned officers for solution of their issues within shortest possible time. He directed all the concerned officers to make frequent visits and organize awareness camps in the far flung areas. He said that downtrodden people should be benefitted with various social welfare schemes.Earlier deputy chief minister visited village Laroka in Nowshera where he inaugurated 6.3MVA, 33/11KV receiving station. Constructed at a cost of Rs 2.85 crore the receiving station will improve the quality and reliability of the power supply in adjoining villages which include Lam, Laroka, Kampala, Mohra, Pukherni etc and nearly 20000 population will be benefitted.
The local people thanked Dy CM for showing concern toward the long pending demands of this region.Addressing a mammoth gathering there, he said that government is committed to provide uninterrupted electricity to all the villages of the state and many initiatives have been taken to streamline the electricity supply.Applauding the role of border people, Deputy Chief Minister said that the people living near the line of control have always acted as a defence line and they never allowed the enemy forces to interfere in our land. “Keeping in view the problems being faced by the people living in the border villages government has decided to construct the community bunkers in the border villages”, he said.MLA Nowshera Ravinder Raina, MLC, Surinder Choudhary, Chief Engineer PDD Ashwani Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhatt, SSP Suleiman Choudhary beside all other district and sectoral officers accompanied the Dy CM.