Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan on Wednesday inaugurated several assets of public utility created by Rural Development Department in Nagrota constituency.The Minister was accompanied by MLA Nagrota Devender Singh Rana, ACD Jammu Taseer Latifi and other senior officers of Jammu District.The Minister inaugurated Baba Dido memorial Park at Jagti Panchayat that was constructed by the department with a cost of Rs 20 lakh in convergence of funds with 14th FC and CDF.At Panjgrian Panchayat in Nagrota block, the Minister inaugurated Common Facility Centre, constructed under 13th FC with Rs 45 lakh.The Minister along with MLA Nagrota also inspected the fencing constructed by RDD with a cost of Rs 14.09 lakh for Govt High School Panjgrian and laid foundation stone for mini stadium adjacent to the school.Speaking on the occasion, Minister said the department has constructed numerous durable assets under different schemes including MGNREGA. He said new initiatives taken up by the department will change the contour of rural areas and will bring rural areas at par with the urban parts with regard to availability of infrastructure and other basic facilities.
He said the coalition government under the stewardship of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, is relentlessly focusing on strengthening of rural economy as engine of growth. The government is uplifting rural poor through a number of key initiatives related to rural housing & infrastructure, farm income, job creation and entrepreneurship promotion, he added.Minister said Rural Development in the state has witnessed several reformative changes during last two years in its emphasis, approaches, strategies and programmes and has assumed a new dimension and perspectives as a consequence rural development has been richer and more meaningful only through the participation of people
Earlier, MLA Nagrota felicitated the Minister for doing commendable job in creating durable public infrastructure. He said he has always appreciated the developmental works being carried out by the Rural Development Department especially in his constituency and that he prefers to build durable assets in convergence with MGNREGA and his CDF.After inaugurating the Mian Dido Memorial park, Rana said it was the long pending demand of the locals to construct a park in memory of the iconic warrior and Duggar pride Mian Dido. He said a statue of Mian Dido will also be erected at the entrance of the park so that the new generation remember the past glory and remain connected with their rich heritage.