Directs district officers to ensure benefits reach genuine beneficiaries; calls for accelerated development in infrastructure, health and tourism sectors
POONCH JANUARY 25:-Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today chaired a review meeting at Dak Bungalow, Poonch, to assess the progress of ongoing developmental works and welfare initiatives across the district.
Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal, former Director Agriculture Kashmir and CEO, SKUAST-Kashmir, was present as a special invitee. The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner, senior district officers, sectoral heads, and representatives of line departments.
During the meeting, District Development Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma presented a comprehensive overview of the physical and financial status of projects being executed under UT Capex, District Capex, and other flagship schemes.
The briefing covered a wide range of sectors, including Minor Irrigation, Elementary Education, Health, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Youth Services & Sports, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Horticulture, Urban Development and allied departments.
Key infrastructure and institutional projects reviewed included the Mini Secretariats at Mendhar and Poonch, Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Mendhar, University Campus, and Motorable Double-Lane Bridge at Sathra.
The Minister also reviewed the implementation and progress of major social sector initiatives such as Amrit Sarovar, Jal Jeevan Mission, and various tribal welfare programmes.
Emphasizing the importance of timely execution, Rana directed all departments to ensure expeditious completion of ongoing projects, stating that delays directly affect public service delivery.
He underscored the need for a robust monitoring mechanism to guarantee that the benefits of government schemes reach the intended and genuine beneficiaries.
The Minister stressed that teamwork, transparency, accountability and integrity must remain central to governance at all levels.
Reviewing the progress under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Minister instructed officers to scale up the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to enhance livelihood opportunities and promote economic empowerment, particularly among rural and tribal communities.
Tourism development also featured prominently in the deliberations. The Chief Executive Officer, Tourism, briefed the meeting on ongoing tourism-related projects, following which the Minister highlighted Poonch’s immense untapped tourism potential and called for focused efforts to strengthen infrastructure and promote sustainable tourism.
Additionally, the Minister reviewed the implementation of major employment and livelihood schemes such as MGNREGA, IWMP, and SANKALP, along with an assessment of the district’s achievements and future development targets.
Rana urged all officers to work with renewed dedication and a people-centric approach, ensuring that development initiatives are completed within stipulated timelines and genuinely improve the quality of life for the people of Poonch.
