Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Abdul Rehman Veeri chaired an introductory cum review meeting with the officers of Kashmir division at SKICC after assuming the charge of the Rural Development department, here today.The meeting was attended by Secretary RDD Sheetal Nanda, Director RDD Kashmir Mohammad Nazir Sheikh, Mission Director SRLM J&K, Director Rural Sanitation J&K, Chief Executive Officer IWMP J&K and Chief Operating Officer Himayat J&K. Assistant Development Commissioners, District Panchayat Officers (DPOs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), Project Officers, Engineers and other concerned officers of Rural Development Department Kashmir also attended the meeting.During the meeting, the Minister was briefed about the progress on various programmes and schemes including MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G), Pradham Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-), Integrated Water Management Programme (IWMP), Himayat being implemented in the state by the department.Detailed discussions were held on MGNREGA programme and its progress in the Kashmir division. The Minister was informed about the total mandays and employment generated by the department for the job card holders. It was given out in the meeting that the wage payments are now being disbursed online through e-FMS to the bank account of the beneficiaries.Director RDD Kashmir told the meeting that the department has utilized the funds to the tune of Rs 1208.59 crore and Rs 638.88 crore was disbursed as wage payment to the beneficiaries in the year 2017-18.Besides, all the works completed under MGNREGA are being geo-tagged for effective monitoring.The Minister asked the Block Development Officers not to take up all the works under MGNREGA together so that their timely completion is ensured.
The meeting was informed that the department has also taken some good governance initiatives for effective implementation of MGNREGA in the state including maintenance of 7 Register, information of citizen information board, implementation of unique job cards and work file as per MoRD, GoI.The Minister directed the BDOs to ensure that 100 % job cards are distributed to the workers by May 31 and also to maintain 7 Registers in their offices. He also asked for expediting the process of seeding Aadhar of workers in MGNREGA database so that amount goes to the bank account of actual beneficiary.While discussing the progress on PMAY-G, the Minister asked the officers to complete the given targets in time so that funds provided by the centre government for providing financial assistance for constructing homes for homeless people are utilized properly. He asked for following the set procedure and to provide the requisite information in the given format to the department so that installments to the beneficiaries are released in time.Veeri asked for completing targets under PMAY-G at the earliest and asked Assistant Development Commissioner to review the progress block wise twice in a month.The progress under SBM-G was discussed briefly during the meeting and stress was laid on achieving target of declaring J&K state ODF as per the district wise roadmap prepared by the department. District wise availability of funds and expenditure was also discussed along with the work done at district level.The meeting also discussed progress under Solid Liquid Waste Management (SLRM) programme and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
Addressing the officers during the meeting, the Minister said that the development of rural population lies on the shoulder of this department and everyone working with this department needs to perform efficiently. He said that BDOs should conduct regular field visits and to monitor the quality of the ongoing works so that they would be proves durable assets for the department and for people too.He asked them to take weekly meeting VLWs to get the clear picture on the ground and act accordingly to take up works under MGNREGA and also provide employment to the people. “It is our duty to take up the works as per the financial arrangements to avoid liabilities and to complete the works in given time”, the Minister added.Veeri said that the performance of the department depends upon the efficiency of its employees and the programmes and schemes introduced by the government for the welfare of the people be implemented on the ground effectively if we are serious towards our duties.With regard to maintenance and record keeping of the assets of the department, the Minister stressed for compiling a booklet having all requisite details of the assets created.Veeri also asked the officers to lay focus on constructing play grounds on convergence mode at block level and also to construct community sanitary complex near Higher Secondary Schools and Rural Hospitals.Asking the officers to introduce best work culture in the department, the Minister said that our efforts should be on to bring transparency and accountability in the system. He said that performing officers would be rewarded and stern action will be taken against those who show non-serious approach towards their duties.