As part of government's unique initiative 'Back to Village' program Phase IV, multifarious activities are being organised across the border district of Rajouri with special focus on taking administration to the doorsteps of rural masses.
On first day of the second phase of the program, Principal Secretary, PWD (R&B), Shailendra Kumar, today visited Patrara panchayat of Rajouri district as Visiting Officer.It is pertinent to mention here that Village Patrara is being developed under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana with implementation of several Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
Officers who were present during the event included DDC Rajouri, Vikas Kundal; ADDC, Pawan Kumar; DDC Member Sunderbani, Rajinder Sharma; BDC Sunderbani, Arun Sharma; ADC Sunderbani, Vinod Kumar Behnal; ACD, Vijay Kumar; DMO, Naseeb Bajrang and officials of different departments.
During his visit, the Visiting Officer inspected stalls set up by different departments at the venue depicting various schemes and programs being implemented in the district.Shailendra Kumar, while interacting with the people and PRI representatives, listened to their grievances and demands of their respective areas including augmentation of water and power supply, improvement in health and education system, better road connectivity etcetera.
Various issues raised during the event included implementation of Ladli beti scheme, construction of roads from Hathal to Bhatathara and from Hathal to Bagnotigala, scarcity of water, shortage of electric wires and poles etcetera.
The visiting officer assured the participants that all their issues and concerns would be taken up with the concerned authorities for an early redressal.He also reviewed implementation of various welfare schemes and programs launched by the government in the panchayat.
He asked the officers to ensure that the benefits of these schemes reaches to each beneficiary of the panchayat.Shailendra Kumar also interacted with the members of Pani Samitis and urged upon them to work with added zeal for successful implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in their respective areas.
Addressing the event, Principal Secretary said that providing all basic facilities to the common masses at their doorsteps is the topmost priority of the UT administration. He added that persistent efforts are being made to ensure that the public do not face any inconvenience on this account.
Saying that the government of Jammu and Kashmir is committed to ensure all round and holistic development of rural areas, he said that a number of measures are being taken up in this regard.Highlighting various schemes and programs launched by the government for the public, he urged upon the officers, PRIs and field functionaries of different departments to educate and motivate the public to avail the benefits of the same.
Shailendra Kumar also highlighted the online services being ensured by different departments for public comfort. He exhorted upon the people to take optimum benefit of these digital platforms as this is a significant initiative of the government to ensure added transparency and accountability in public delivery system.
Stressing on taking effective measures to curb the menace of drug abuse, he asked the officers to make dedicated efforts to make Rajouri a drug free district. He also sought the active cooperation of the public in this regard.
Referring to scores of self employment generation schemes and programs, he asked the officers to educate the unemployed and educated youth about these schemes and motivate them to avail the benefits of the same.
On being apprised that the youth club in panchayat Patrara has been constituted but is not active, the visiting officer asked the concerned officer to make the youth club active at the earliest.Later, Principal Secretary distributed land passbooks among landowners and facilitated girls with kits under BBBP.
He planted a sapling of Araucaria plant under Har Gaon Haryali initiative at HS Patrara. He also visited medical sub-centre at Patrara being constructed by the PWD(R&B) at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh.