On his third day tour to Chenab valley region, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) and Tribal Development, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali Sunday interacted with the people of Chatroo village and directed the district administration to prepare a comprehensive proposal for development and upliftment of Tribal population of the district.He asked the DC kishtwar to identify the tribal population in the district and prepare an Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) for filling the critical gaps, covering all the major aspects related to basic amenities including food, water, electricity, education, health facilities etc.The Minster said this while addressing a huge gathering of people in a public outreach programme held at Chatroo Kishtwar. He was accompanied by Vice Chairman Gujjar and Bakarwal Development Board Gulzar Ahmed Khatana, Legislators G.M. Saroori, Firdoos Ahmed Tak, Director Tribal Affairs, Mohammad Rafi Poswal, Director FCS&CA R.A. Inquilabi, DDC Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana and other officers of district administration.
During the programme, Minster interacted with the public, listened to their grievances and assured to redress their issues so that every single household gets benefitted by the policies of Govt especially with regard to the upliftment of the Tribal population of the Chenab Valley that, according to him, lacks basic amenities of livelihood.Terming education as a basic factor for welfare and overall development of the society, he urged upon the Tribal community to educate their children and directed DDC Kishtwar to make the very Tribal area school functional in all aspects besides prepare a comprehensive proposal of the left out areas.He assured that their children shall be imparted vocational trainings so that they can earn their livelihood.Zulfkar directed DDC to identify land for construction of EKLAVYA residential model school with intake capacity of 500 boys and girls and a Gujjar Girls hostel at Kishtwar on priority basis. He further asked the officers to prepare a list of nomadic people to authenticate the residents of district so that Ration cards are issued to them.
The Minister said that the government shall provide 10,000 Biomass Gas Stoves for distribution among the Tribal community besides 1000 Solar lights are kept under the disposal of DC to distribute it to the needy or area wise on priority.Acting upon the demands of MLA Inderwal G.M Saroori, the Minister assured that Govt will examine the proposal of enhancement of ration quota from existing 35% to 50% for the people of Chatroo on the pattern Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan areas. He asked the dealers to check the quality of food grains before unloading the stock and directed to distribute the same in a transparent manner.Later, the Minster laid foundation stone for construction of “EKLAVYA Residential Model School” at Gujjar Boys hostel Doda.He announced Rs 16 crore for construction of the said school and said that the school shall provide education besides boarding and lodging facilities to 480 Boys and girls students belonging to Gujjar and Bakarwal community.Vice Chairman Gujjar and Bakarwal Development Board Gulzar Ahmed Khatana, MLA Doda Shakti Raj Parihar, MLC Firdoos Tak, DDC Doda Bhawani Rakwal besides other officers were present on the occasion.