Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq today visited Poonch to take stock of the developmental works being undertaken by Rural Development Department and also reviewed the functioning of various Departments in the district.DC Poonch, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, SP Rajiv Panday, ACD Poonch Zubair Shah, DPO, BDOs, VLWs, besides other officials of RDD attended the meeting.The meeting was informed that the Department has set the target of generating 19.40 lakh man days for the unemployed youth of the district during the current financial year. Officials said during the first quarter of the year as many as 5 lakh man days have been generated, so far, while as the district has around 77461 job card holders.It was said that the district has an available budget of Rs 43.02 crore out of which Rs 39.11 crore have been spent so far. The district has also an approved labour budget of Rs 59.31 crore.Officials further informed that Under MGNREGA 4966 works have been taken up during current financial year out of which 1936 works have been completed and work is in progress on 3030 projects.The Minister expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the Department and appealed the officials to work with added zeal to ensure the DISTRICT remains at the top in MGNREGA works in the whole country.
He said MGNREGA works have changed the developmental scenario of the rural areas and lauded the role of officers in making the aim of MGNREGA successful.He said the present dispensation is committed to develop Poonch district on modern lines and increase job avenues by giving fillip to the tourism sector in the district. He said former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took revolutionary steps within a short span of time for the development of twin districts Poonch and Rajouri which include the opening of Poonch-Chakkan-da-Bagh road for cross border trade, opening of a university in Rajouri, connecting the twin districts with Kashmir through Mughal road and other developmental projects.Abdul Haq said under MGNREGA, he has directed the officials to stop the traditional works of lanes and drains and instead focus on the rural connectivity. He lauded the role of officials in making the development plans successful on ground.He said the roads are the key to development and that construction of roads and bridges under MGNREGA will help the rural population to find new avenues. He said the works done under rural development will blur the rural-urban divide by ensuring equal facilities.