Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today said that government has brought in over ninety welfare schemes which have brought robust change in the life of a common man. Making good governance a benchmark, the benefits of these schemes are being provided to people irrespective of any consideration to achieve inclusive growth, Deputy Chief Minister said while addressing public meetings in Arnas and Reasi, here today. He asked people to avail the opportunities while highlighting the achievements, policies and programmes of the state and central governments. “Over 91 welfare schemes have been launched to raise the economic profile of the local people and special care is being taken to assure that benefits of these reach to the people” he asserted.Dr. Singh asked district administration to work at grass root level and start door to door campaign to bring local people under the ambit of this development process.For effective development, Deputy Chief Minister urged the civil society to establish close liaison with local administration. Referring to demonetisation and other historic steps taken by the government, Dr. Singh said that such initiatives were taken with an aim to eradicate corruption and enforce accountability in public affairs.
On the electrification of areas lacking power supply, Dy.CM said that several households have been covered in rural areas while several innovative steps are being taken to improve power infra focussing on quality aspect. In this regard, the Dy CM urged the local people to cooperate with the government to streamline the power distribution system and help in curbing thefts and power losses.Referring to one crore funds allocated to each constituency of the state under Power sector, Dr. Singh said with these spending existing system would get new impetus. He said several plans and proposals for receiving stations at Panasa, Surjandhar and Chasana are under process to augment overall power network in these areas. He also said tenders under Deen Dayal Upadhya Gram Jyoti Yojana have been floated and very soon vigorous progress under the scheme would be made visible on the ground.Dr. Singh said several habitations have been connected by PMGSY roads in Reasi district like Prankote, Thakrakote, Gulabgarh, Dhanour, Kanthi, Bomag, Kotla, Dangakote and various other areas which were very difficult to be accessed other wise and villagers had to walk several kilometres to reach Tehsil or district headquarters.
On tourism, Dr Singh said all possible measures would also be taken to divert tourists of Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori towards Arnas and other hilly belts of Mahore, Thuroo, Gool etc. The Government would focus on development of Siard Baba, Dagan top, Lapri top, Ghora Gali and various other uncharted areas to increase the tourism footfall in the district, he added.The Deputy Chief Minister further assured the people that all deserving families would be listed under BPL and members would be linked with Adhaar for getting direct benefits of different schemes.Dy. CM also elaborated on newly launched schemes of Water Supply, Agriculture, Horticulture, Urban Development and RDD and said that all these schemes are meant to bring overall development of rural areas.Responding to the issue raised by locals, Dy. CM announced Dental Chair for hospital at Arnas which was long pending demand of the locals.MLC Vikram Randhawa also spoke on the occasion and assured the people full support in resolving their problems. He also highlighted schemes and programmes of the government like Soil Health Card scheme, Fasal Bima Yojana, Bhim App, Atal Pension Yojana etc. Earlier, local people demanded blacktopping of Chundar Morh to Pattian road, completion of road works under PMGSY, covering of left out beneficiaries under ration cards. They also raised the issue of shifting of Tehsil and block offices at Dharmari.