Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Dec 31: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today laid foundation stone of model village, Nagrota Panchayat Anandpur block Purmandal in Samba district.
The model village project, envisaging development of modern civic amenities and other facilities, would involve an estimated cost of Rs. 1.1crore.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone, the Minister said that aim of developing the model village is to improve the socio-economic condition of the locals through development of social infrastructure and ensure need based development in the area.
He said the model village project aims at to improve living conditions in the remote and backward areas by creating civic infrastructure on modern lines, besides making available facilities required for promotion of local economy and employment.
Referring to the empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions, he said the provision of bringing fourteen departments under their ambit was to facilitate direct implementation of development schemes through these grass root level institutions. He asked the functionaries of line departments to ensure full involvement of the PRIs at all levels of project formulation and implementation
The Minister called upon the people to avail the benefits of flagship schemes like MGNREGA, SKEWPY and other self-employment schemes to gain employment. He asked the youth to come forward and opt for self-employment through setting up of their own income generating units.
Highlighting the importance of self-employment, he said by setting up of their units the youth would become job providers instead of job seekers. He also asked the youth to go for skill upgradation and capacity development for which the State Government has launched the schemes like UDDAN.
He also asked the villagers to avail the benefits of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan scheme under which they can get assistance for constructing lavatories.
The Minister directed the Director Rural Development to closely watch the development works to be taken up under the Model Village project to ensure completion in a stipulated time frame.
He exhorted upon the officers to aware the masses about different schemes launched by the Government so that they can get maximum benefits of these schemes. He also directed the administration to keep the panchayats involved while framing development plans and execution of the work.
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Samba, Yashpal Kundal, Director Rural Development, Jammu, local ACD and other senior officers of the district.
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