Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 5: Presenting the report card of the Coalition Government in the Rural Development sector after completing 5 years in office, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said that rural areas have witnessed visible change in terms of people’s participation in decision making, plan implementation together with massive infrastructural development and establishment of a functional and a vibrant Panchayati Raj set up.
“We are presenting to the people of the State, our progress and what we have been able to achieve during the last 5 years of the Omar led Coalition Government in the form of a booklet detailing clearly the fairly high financial and physical progress that has been achieved in the rural development sector across the State”, he said.
The Minister was addressing a gathering after releasing a book detailing five year achievements of Rural Development Department here today.
Describing the holding of Panchayat elections in the State despite challenges as a landmark achievement of the Coalition Government, Mr Sagar said the massive participation that was witnessed during the Panchayat elections in the State was reflective of the people’s yearning to see change in the rural face of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that this yearning has led to the establishment of Panchayati Raj in the State and its subsequent empowerment with the transfer of functions of 14 line departments.
Mr Sagar said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been keen to take the State on the fast track of development and the State has seen a revolution in terms of infrastructural development in rural areas.
He said that Coalition Government is working towards strengthening the grass root level democratic governance system further by setting up a full-fledged 3 tier system. He said powers and funds have been devolved to Panchayats and all officers have been directed to cooperate and provide assistance to these Panchayats in their day to day working, monitoring and plan implementation.
Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture, Raman Bhalla, in his address said that confidence level among rural population has increased as gap between rural and urban areas in terms of development and access to basic amenities is reducing day by day.
Mr Bhalla said establishment of Panchayati Raj Institutions through historic elections that witnessed huge turnout, devolution of power and funds, model villages, establishment of Panchayat Ghars, providing sanitation facilities, Pacca Houses under IAY, and other schemes and programmes have revolutionised the development scenario across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Mr Bhalla said Coalition Government is committed to balanced development, bridging rural-urban gap besides taking welfare and development to the door steps of the people. He said massive awareness has been created among rural people and they are actively participating in planning and monitoring the Development works themselves.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Viqar Rasool said rural development schemes particularly MGNREGA has transformed the face of rural J&K, adding that results on ground speak for itself about the massive impact and the visible change. He said it is heartening to see that plans are formulated at the grass root level and then implemented as per the wishes and the aspirations of the people through the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary Rural Development, Farooq Ahmad Peer, in his welcome address said that there has been big leap in the execution and implementation of MGNREGA in the State which took off from Rs 65 crore during the first year to Rs 850 crore during last financial year. He said that as many as 15 publications on rural development have been issued for mass awareness among people and Panchayat representatives.
Director, Rural Development, Jammu, Shafiq Ahmad Raina, Director, Panchayati Raj, Farooq Ahmad, CEO, IWMP, G. A. Shah, officers of Rural Development Department, Sarpanchs and Panchs were present on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
