Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore today presided over a public outreach programme under the weekly Block Diwas initiative at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Tulmulla. The programme was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner, Manzoor Ahmad; PO ICDS, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Assistant Commissioner Development and other district and sectoral officers, besides civil society members, public representatives and residents from different areas of Tulmulla and adjoining villages.
At the outset, several delegations and individuals projected issues and demands concerning development and public welfare in their respective localities. The issues raised during the programme mainly related to augmentation of drinking water supply, issues related to Dhobi canal, repairs of roads and damaged water pipelines, improvement of existing playground, establishment of additional Anganwadi Centres, healthcare infrastructure, sanitation, maintenance of public assets, street lighting, restoration of springs in the localities among others.
Residents also sought better management of irrigation canals, revival of defunct infrastructure, improvement of public facilities, establishment of library in Tulmulla and deployment of sanitation workers and dustbins at Main Market Tulmulla. Officers of the concerned departments responded to several issues on the spot and apprised the public about ongoing works, departmental procedures and measures being undertaken for resolution of grievances.
The DC gave a patient hearing to all delegations and individuals and directed the concerned departments to take prompt action on genuine public grievances in a time-bound manner. Addressing the gathering, the DC said that programmes such as Block Diwas provide an important platform for direct interaction between the administration and the public and help in obtaining valuable feedback regarding developmental requirements and service delivery.
The DC directed the concerned irrigation officials to undertake field visits to identified locations and assess practical issues raised by residents so that necessary interventions can be taken up at the earliest. Expressing concern over certain complaints regarding public service delivery, he directed departmental officers to ensure that officials perform their duties with sincerity and commitment and that public grievances are addressed in a responsive manner.
Referring to the forthcoming annual Kheer Bhawani Mela at Tulmulla, the DC appreciated the tradition of communal harmony and hospitality displayed by the people of the district. He said the event holds immense significance for Ganderbal and expressed confidence that local residents would continue to extend a warm welcome to visiting devotees and uphold the positive and inclusive atmosphere for which the mela is known.
Earlier, students of Government Higher Secondary School Watlar, Ganderbal presented a captivating song on Nasha Mukt Bharat, while students of Royal Public School staged an impactful skit highlighting the menace of drug abuse among youth.
These performances sensitized the audience regarding the harmful consequences of substance abuse and underscored the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding younger generations from the threat of addiction