As part of Prime Minister's initiative to reach out to people of Jammu and Kashmir, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Danve Raosaheb Dadarao, today convened a public outreach programme at Manjakote block of Rajouri district.Secretary Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, PK Pole, District Development Commissioner, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh, Director Food and Consumer Affairs Jitender Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police Yougal Manhas besides other senior officers of civil administration and rngineering wings were present on the occasion.The public outreach camp witnessed huge public participation including BDC chairpersons, Sarpanchs, Panchs, prominent citizens, retired government employees, women and youth.BDC chairpersons and Sarpanchs from block Manjakote and Pangrain projected major issues and demands of their areas before the visiting Minister seeking an early redressal to the same. Their issues included establishment of degree college and Mini sports stadium at block Manjakote, adequate power supply, shortage of electricity poles, replacement of worn out water pipes, improvement in health and education system etc.Danve, while elaborating on the objective of holding these public outreach programmes, said that the initiative launched by the Central Government would go a long way in bridging the gap between public and government in the Union Territory of J&K. The effort is aimed at to ascertain the needs of the public so that plans are formulated accordingly for effective development.The Minister said that Central Government is working under a well knit programme to take the UT of J&K towards new dimensions of growth and development and several steps are being taken in this regard. He also highlighted various Central Government welfare schemes and urged upon the people to avail benefit of these schemes. He exhorted upon the officers of the district administration to focus on areas having potential of creating employment opportunities for unemployed youth of the district.He informed that Central Government has announced a package of 80 thousand crore in order to ensure proper development of UT of J&K. He also informed that Government has decided to lay gas line connections in the UT in the next two years to facilitate the poor and needy families.
He told the public about Bharat Darshan scheme in which they get a chance to move out of the UT and visit other areas of the country.Danve said that the Government has decided to provide an additional power supply of 186 MW for the UT to resolve the issue of unscheduled power cuts. He told that to ensure safety of the people affected by cross border shelling safe shelters in the shape of border bunkers are being constructed across LOC areas.Meanwhile, the Minister distributed water quality testing kits among the Sarpanchs besides giving away school bags and stationery items to girl children under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme. He also handed over sanctioned letters of pension cases and state marriage assistance to the beneficiaries. He also distributed gas along with chullas among the beneficiaries under Ujjawala yojana.The Minister also inaugurated 40 metre Span Single Lane Motorable bridge at Tasyala Pangrain constructed with a cost of Rs.1.94 crore.DDC Rajouri, informed the visiting Minister about various welfare schemes and development activities being carried out in the district by different departments like PHE, PWD, PDD, CAPD, RDD, Social Welfare department, health, tourism and allied departments.Later, 20 delegations including 1500 individuals called on the Union Minister of State and apprised him of their issues and concerns.A delegation of Sarpanchs led by BDC Chairperson Majakote Shamshar Begum raised various demands regarding augmentation of road, water and electricity, Health and Education infrastructure in the area. A delegation led by BDC Chairman Pangrain Mian Mohammad Imran also raised demands like repair of old roads, replacement of worn out water pipes, shortage of electricity poles etc.A delegation of locals led by Sameer Khan, Sarpanch panchayat Manjakote met the Minister and demanded ST status to Pahari Speaking People.