As part of weekly Block Diwas public outreach programme, Principal Secretary, Skill Development, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, who is also Secretary In-charge Bandipora, on Wednesday visited Sumbal sub division of the district and inaugurated Baba Jungi Lift Irrigation scheme in Wangipora besides reviewing development works being executed there.Dr Samoon also held interaction with public delegations to assess their issues and concerns.Chairman District Development Council, Abdul Gani Bhat, Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad, Directors of Horticulture, Agriculture, Skill Development, Urban Local Bodies, Handicrafts, Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry and Social Forestry, Mission Director ICDS, Assistant Commissioner Development, Abdul Rashid Dassm, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Altaf Mosvi, Joint Director Planning Imtiyaz Ahmad, BDC members and other PRI members accompanied the Principal Secretary.Dr Samoon, while addressing gathering after inaugurating the Lift Irrigation Scheme at Wangipora, said the government is implementing various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) on Micro Irrigation with the objective to enhance water use efficiency in the agriculture sector by promoting appropriate technological interventions like drip and sprinkler irrigation technologies. The focus is being laid on encouraging farmers to use water saving and conservation technologies.He said the Government is committed to accord high priority to water conservation and its management.
In this regard, he made a mention of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which has been formulated with the vision of extending coverage of irrigation ‘Har Khet ko Pani’ and improving water use efficiency ‘More crop per drop' in a focused manner with end to end solution on source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities.Dr Samoon also highlighted Jal Jeevan Mission which is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households especially in rural areas. He said the programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting.Dr Samoon said the JJM is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission and aims to create a Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.Later, he visited ITI Hajin and interacted with the students and the staff besides reviewing the functioning of the institution. He urged upon the students to learn the job oriented skills making themselves employable in the contemporary market.
During the interaction with the students and the college staff, various issued related to basic facilities in the college were discussed including scholarships, staff strength, increase in intake capacity etc.He said add-on courses for different skill trades will be provided to students adding that the placement drives will also be held to adjust skilled youth in different sectors. He said the government is in contact with various national and multi-national companies to organize recruitment drives for the skilled youth. He said orientation programmes for tourism students will also be held in future.Later, Principal Secretary visited Indoor Stadium Shadipora where he witnessed a Kabadii match and distributed prizes among the winners and runner up teams.Dr Samoon also reviewed functioning of Urban Local Bodies at Hajin in a meeting that was attended by officers of Urban Local Bodies and elected representatives of the Municipal Committees.He took stock of various developmental activities being executed in the towns including drainage, waste management, macdamization and implementation of housing schemes.Dr Samoon also interacted with the members of civil society who apprised him of various issues seeking an early redressal.