Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Continuing campaign to generate awareness among various stakeholders of the society about the water sanitation and its judicious use, a mega one-day training-cum-awareness programme was held at Police Auditorium, here today.
The programme was organized by the Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) in collaboration with NGO National Development Foundation (NDF).
Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma was chief guest, Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla was guest of honour on the occasion. Member Parliament, Madan Lal Sharma and MLA, Ashok Khajuria were special invitees.
Chairman, State Water Resources Regulatory Authority, S.S. Kapur, Commissioner/Secretary PHE, Dr.Pawan Kotwal, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, A.K. Sahu, Chief Engineer, PHE, K.K. Gupta, Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic), Jammu, Rajiv Gandotra, State Coordinator, CCDU, Dr.Narinder Butyal, Chief Functionary, NDF, Rajiv Khajuria, engineers, doctors, Sarpanchs, anganwari workers, ASHA workers, resource persons on the subject and prominent citizens from different parts of Jammu district were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Sham Lal Sharma said that awareness of water sanitation, conservation and its judicious use is an important component of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and PHE Department has been mandated to implement this programme in letter and spirit. He asked the concerned to expand its area of operation at the block level and conduct frequent awareness camps to educate the masses at the bottom level to achieve the real spirit of the programme.
Maintaining that Sarpanchs/Panchs have greater responsibility to ensure safe drinking water and conservation of water resources in the rural areas, the Minister asked the PRIs to play their pro-active role and full-fill responsibilities in their jurisdictions. He said that Panchayat functionaries are the custodian of Government assets and schemes in their areas and they must monitor the activities in their areas to ensure better services to the people at the grass root level.
Raman Bhalla congratulated the organizers for holding this important event and asked the participants to utilize their experience on ground to ensure safe drinking water to the people. He stressed the need for holding such workshops in other areas to educate the masses about the water sanitation and conservation. He also called for taking preventing measures to ensure judicious use of water.
Madan Lal Sharma called for close coordination between different agencies to achieve the common goal of ensuring safe drinking water and conservation of water resources. He emphasised the need for organizing awareness camps on regular basis at the grass root level by ensuring massive participation of people, especially the Panchayat functionaries to achieve the objective of Government programme. He said safe drinking water is fundamental right of every citizen and Government should step up its efforts in this direction.
Dr.Pawan Kotwal while giving details about the functioning of CCDU and State Level Water Sanitation Mission said that Government has adopted a well-knit strategy to generate awareness about the water sanitation and its usages amongst the general masses at all levels. Besides, the Government has constituted District Level Water Sanitation Missions, headed by concerned Deputy Commissioners to take care of the issue. The department has devised a comprehensive programme to cover all areas by imparting necessary trainings to various stakeholders including Panchayat Members about the water sanitation and conservation of traditional water resources.
Various speakers, including former engineers also spoke on the occasion and exchanged measures for sanitation and conservation of water.
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