As part of the public outreach programme launched by the Centre Government for the Union Territory of J&K, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation(Independent Charge) ) and MoS Commerce and Industry today met scores of people during a public outreach programme here at Sunderbani. The Union Minister also inaugurated string of newly constructed development projects and laid foundation for a few new projects. Principal Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta, District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh, Director Housing and Urban Development Department, Veer Ji Hangloo, SSP Rajouri Yougal Manhas, BDC Chairpersons, Arun Kumar Sharma, Bharat Bushan Sharma , President MC Sunderbani, Rajinder Sharma, District officers besides Sarpanchs, Panchs, and a large number of prominent citizens from different Panchayats were present in the programme . Responding to demands projected by the people and the elected representatives, Puri said that the main objective of the outreach programme in J&K is to get the first hand appraisal of the public issues and to start the process to overcome the existing developmental deficit on war footing. The Minister said that Government is committed to develop J&K for which numerous innovative steps are being initiated and the same are yielding tangible results. "A number of projects are in progress which will further reduce the developmental deficit in the UT" he said.Highlighting the objectives of Pardhan Mantri Awas Yojana- the centre's flagship housing scheme, the Minister said the target of constructing 1 crore houses has been achieved in the month of December,2019, much earlier than the set deadline. "The figures bear testimony that the Government is committed to provide basic amenities to the public in a time bound manner," he added."A number of new and upgraded airports would be commissioned in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in coming months under the Civil Aviation Scheme UDAN,( ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’)" he informed. "It is a Regional Connectivity Scheme launched by the government that aims to make un-served/underserved airports in small cities operational with regular flights, and offer subsidized airfares to encourage more people to fly,", he added.
Regarding the road and rail connectivity, the Minister said that connectivity is the basic requirement for growth and development of an area and Center government is endeavoring hard to develop a massive road network in the UT. He said rail connectivity is also important in harnessing the potential of the area.He also highlighted the developmental achievements in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under Ayushman Bharat, Saubhagya, SBM, PMAY(Rural) and other centrally sponsored Schemes. He called upon the officers to make sincere and dedicated efforts towards taking the benefits of all government schemes to the targeted sections of the society.He assured the gathering that all their demands will be addressed on priority. Earlier, District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh highlighted the mega projects, flagship schemes being executed in the district, including the Government Medical College Rajouri, Jal Jeevan Mission etc. He also highlighted the achievements of the District under MGNREGA, PMAY, SBM, Ayushman Bharat, individual oriented schemes, Saubhagya etc.Meanwhile, the Union Minister inaugurated newly constructed assets, including a Community Facilitation Centre at Thandapani, Anganwadi Centre at Panchayat, Bhajwal, PMAY houses and laid Foundation stone of a Children park at Sunderbani.During the programme the Minister also handed award letter to the PMAY Urban Beneficiaries, Water testing kits to sarpanchs, schools bags and stationery items to girl students under BBBP and sanction letters of other individual beneficiaries schemes to the beneficiaries.Later the Minister also met a number of deputations including the senior citizens Associations, Beopar Mandal Associations, BJP Sunderbani delegation, Sarpanchs, including Pahari Sarpanch Associations, Social workers and trade union members.A number of demands were projected by the deputations, which included Old age home at Sunderbani, Ownership Rights to the refugees, opening of fire brigade sub Centre at Sunderbani, adequate staff for Health and Education institution, inclusion of the Senior Citizens under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat, development of potential tourism spots, parking facilities, double laning of Jammu-Poonch Highway, Rail projects, sports stadium, press club for Journalists and other issues concerning the public of Sunderbani and adjoining villagesThe Minister gave a patient hearing to the public deputations and assured to look into all genuine demands. He asked the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri to solve the public issues and direct the District level officers to establish camp offices in far flung areas to facilitate the public. He said that the central government is committed to ensure all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir and the current visit of Union Ministers is part of the initiative aiming at to take efficient governance to the doorsteps of people.