Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 28: Union Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Udhampur-Kathua-Doda, Dr Jitendra Singh has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his compliment to block Reasi in his”Mann Ki Baat” radio broadcast of today.
Dr Jitendra Singh said,he took special pride to note that within three months, Modi has referred twice to Jammu & Kashmir and the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda constituency represented by him in the “Mann Ki Baat” monthly broadcast.
Earlier, he recalled, in the month of February, Prime Minister had referred to district Kathua for its outstanding performance in carrying forward the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” programme and now, in May broadcast of “Mann Ki Baat”, he has referred to block Reasi being officially declared as the first ODF (Open Defecation Free) block in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is no small achievement, and in fact a great overwhelming feeling, to note that none less than the Prime Minister has found it appropriate to spare precious time in the “Mann Ki Baat” broadcast to refer to these achievements, not once but twice within three months.
Pertinent to mention that recently, Union Minister for Rural Development, Narendra Singh Tomar had travelled to Reasi along with Union Minister and local MP Dr Jitendra Singh where, in the presence of district administration and other senior officers of the State, he had officially declared the Reasi block, constituting 11 Panchayats, as the first ODF block of Jammu & Kashmir State.
Meanwhile, District Development Commissioner Reasi, Ravinder Kumar, said that movement titled “Reasi Chh Khule Kola Khalasi” was started three months back in the district, for which a District Coordination and Monitoring Cell was constituted to monitor the progress on daily basis.
“The massive campaign was organized by Rural Development Department in Panchayats of Block Reasi, in which villagers walked through the roads of the village with lighted mashaals creating awareness and spreading the message of constructing toilets and harmful effects of defecating in the open. A series of other programmes were held which included special cleanliness drives in all 147 Panchayats and two Municipal Committees besides various Mashaal Yatra, Debates & Painting competition in educational institutions, awareness rallies, Nukad Nataks, Gourav Yatra, Choupals besides a mega programme at Mini Secretariat DC Office Complex Reasi in which more than 2,000 people participated,” he informed.
More than 30 district, block and sectoral level officers were made Nodal Officers for various activities carried out in the district and more than 1000 officers/officials including Tehsildars, BDO’s, ZEO’s, AEO’s, JAA’s, VAEO’s, Teachers, VLW’s, GRS’s, AWW’s, ASHA’s, FMMPHW’s besides various Lambardars and Chowkidars, Sarpanches & Panches involving 40 departments participated in different programmes and made direct interaction with appx 15000 people. All these activities were also highlighted through Radio, Television, newspapers, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc. to create massive awareness across the District.
Mega Swachhta Abhiyans were held under the supervision of District Development Commissioner, Reasi. Ravinder Kumar at 22 locations including Railway Station Katra, Bus Stand Katra and Reasi and Shri Shiv Khouri Shrine Base Camp Ransoo & Ban Ganga Katra. The programmes were organized by District Administration in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Katra and others with the objective to make the Iconic places neat, clean & eco friendly and to add impetus to the movement.
DDC Ravinder Kumar cherished the contribution of women who actively participated and took a lead role in creating awareness among the village ladies about their respect and the importance of constructing toilets. The DDC managed to call expert people from Feedback Foundation, an NGO in collaboration with WHO and workshop was organized in which Teams of Motivators were created among the villagers. Then again the mission ODF got pace and daily morning and evening follow ups and wide inspection of areas were carried out and people were stopped from defecating in the open. Motivators blew whistles warning people not to defecate in open. People got more and more awareness and started constructing toilets.
DDC along with ACD, DPO and BDO Reasi were awarded for making Block Reasi as first block in the State of J&K Open Defecation Free by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
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