Advisor to Lt Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today visited Reasi and inspected various works being executed by Rural Development Department in several parts of the district.During the visit, Advisor inspected various works in different panchayats of Panthal and Katra blocks being executed under schemes like MGNREGA, PMAY, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, Back to Village and 14th Finance Commission. The inspected works included Water Conservation/Water Harvesting, Rural Connectivity, Shopping Complex and Solid Liquid Waste Management Centre.Advisor laid emphasis on convergence and dove-tailing of various schemes to create durable rural assets in the district. He directed the officers to focus on labour intensive works under MGNREGA for providing livelihood to rural households during the challenging times of COVID-19.During visit to PMAY houses, Advisor inspected the roof top harvesting model, which is under implementation in the district in convergence with MGNREGA, would be used as powerful tool for water conservation and ground water recharge in all inaccessible areas of this hilly district .
Advisor, while interacting with members of Panchyati Raj Institutions, urged upon them to prepare comprehensive plans with the help of Line departments for overall development of their Panchyats. He also interacted with women of various Self Help Groups of State Rural Livelihood Mission (UMEED) and lauded their efforts towards making masks which is a basic preventive measure during COVID-19 infection.Director Rural Development Department, Sudarshan Kumar, SSP Reasi, Rashmi Wazir, Superintendent Engineer Jammu Division, Mohd. Shabir, Additional Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Rajinder Kumar Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Development, Dr. Anirudh Rai and PRI members including Chairpersons Block Development Councils, Sarpanchs and Panches were present on the occasion.Late, Advisor held a meeting with Katra Hotels Association which was attended by Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Ramesh Kumar, Director Tourism Raj Kumar Katoch, Joint Director Tourism, Neelam Khajuria, Sub Divisional Magistrate Katra, Ashok Kumar and President Hotel and Restaurant Association Katra, Rakesh Wazir.Representatives of the Association highlighted their problems and demands like improvement of tourism infrastructure in the holy town of Katra.Responding to the grievances and issues put forth by the members of the Association, the Advisor assured them all their genuine demands would be redressed at the earliest.