Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today exhorted upon Rural Development Department officers to ensure creation of durable assets under MGNREGA for larger interest of the society. The Minister, while chairing a meeting of officers of Rural Development Department and Panchayats, assessed the progress on various development works being executed in rural belts of the district.Assistant Commissioner Development Choudhary Noor Alam and District Panchayat Officer Rajeev Khajuria along with all Block Development Officers and Panchayat Inspectors were present in the meeting. Stressing upon the need of creating tangible assets under various schemes especially MGNREGA, Zulfkar said that the Rural Development Department is getting liberal funding from the Center for development of rural areas which should utilized optimally for creating durable assets to benefit the real beneficiaries.
He said that the department is constructing big roads, bridges, buildings and other assets under MGNREGA which has not only added to the infrastructural edifice of the state but has proved to be a great job provider for the needy and poor people. The Minister asked the officers to complete all ongoing works in a time bound manner as unnecessary delay in execution of development works mars the very objective of development programmes. He said that transparency and accountability is the hallmark of present dispensation so officers have a crucial role in maintaining the sanctity and credibility of government.The Minister complimented the district Rural Development Department for receiving national award for rural development in Rajouri district. He lauded the role of officers of this district for their great job and expressed optimism that they will continue their services with the same vigour and sincerity towards people’s welfare.
He said that the department has brought tangible changes and various projects taken up under convergence with MGNREGA would definitely transform the socio-economic profile of the district. Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner Development briefed the Minister that they have taken works of 153 foot bridges in the districts under MGREGA and convergence schemes, of which, work on 32 bridges has been completed. He said that they are also working on the construction of 5 school buildings. He apprised that the department has raised 24 Panchayat Ghars out of the total 125 taken up and work is in progress on the remaining buildings.