Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Maintaining that the Government has ensured overall and need based development of the State by ensuring that the benefit of the various welfare schemes percolates to the ground level, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said that certain forces are trying to negate the achievements registered by the Government by spreading lies and divisive propaganda.
The Minister was addressing a huge public gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Model village at Kangrial Balwal in Jammu district, besides inaugurating a Panchayat Ghar constructed by the Department of Rural Development.
The Model Village will be taken up with an estimated cost of Rs. 1.12 crore and will have all the requisite facilities like Community Information Centre, play grounds and other allied things.
MLA Raipur Bharat Bushan, Director Rural Development Jammu, Shafiq Ahmad Raina, Additional District Development Commissioner, Jammu G. N. Balwan, Assistant Commissioner Development Jammu K. K. Sidha and other senior officers of district were present on the occasion.
The Minister while referring to the developmental initiatives undertaken by the Government said that the several flagship schemes have been introduced which have been responsible for changing the socio-economic profile of the people living in these areas besides providing much needed job opportunities to them at their doorsteps and also ensuring the creation of assets for the general convenience of the people.
Referring to the creation of new administrative units, Mr. Sagar said that this historic step taken by the Government would ensure fast based development of these areas which would go a long way in elevating the socio-economic profile of the people living in rural and far-flung areas. He said that certain parties are trying to mislead the masses but the people of the state are wise enough to understand their mechanizations and would give a befitting reply to them in coming future.
Terming the empowerment of Panchayats one of the major initiatives undertaken by the Government for ensuring the decentralization of powers to the grass root level, the Minister said that these basic units of Governance have been adequately empowered with the powers of 14 vital departments and the necessary instruction have been passed down the line to ensure that they are involved in implementation and formulation of various welfare programmes.
Mr. Sagar said that the new initiative of providing a model village for every constituency of the state would ensure that these areas come up at par with the urban areas and are provided with every modern facilities so that the people living in these areas get the requisite benefits.
MLA Raipur Domana, Bharat Bushan also spoke on the occasion.
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