Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 19: Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani, conducted an extensive tour of Udhampur to review progress on various ongoing development works being executed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and other programmes.
District Development Council Chairperson, Lal Chand, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda, Vice Chairperson DDC, Juhi Manhas Pathania, Deputy Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, SSP, Dr Vinod Kumar besides DDC and BDCs members and other district heads of various departments attended the meeting.
Union Minister took comprehensive review of financial and physical progress achieved under district Capex budget 2021-22 and 2022-23 and other vital development plans of Center government.
She directed the concerned departments to mobilize their men and machinery for effective implementation of all schemes. She emphasized coverage of 100 per cent eligible beneficiaries under all schemes.
While reviewing road wise progress of RDD and PWD sectors, Union Minister directed the concerned authorities to expedite the pace of progress on these works so that the set targets are achieved as per the given timelines.
Union Minister exhorted upon the DC to regularly monitor all ongoing development works and get feedback from district officers on daily basis for effective implementation.
Later, Union Minister had an interactive session with the PRI members who briefed her about various centrally sponsored schemes being implemented in their respective areas. She also sought feedback from them regarding status of implementation of various CSSs on ground.
The PRI representatives projected several issues and demands which inter alia included pending liabilities under MGNREGA works, implementation of JJM, establishment of degree college at Moungri, shortage of staff in educational institutions, installation of transformer, acute shortage of drinking water supply in Udhampur city, dilapidated condition of PMGSY road, establishment of cutting and tailoring centre, SRTC Bus service and other matters.
Union Minister issued on the spot directions to the concerned officers for resolving the issues projected during the session in a time bound manner.
Meanwhile, Smriti Irani launched an awareness campaign on Single Use Plastics (SUP) at Patnitop.
Appreciating the eco-friendly initiative of PDA while launching the awareness campaign from the lush green meadows of Patnitop, Smriti Irani urged upon the stakeholders and tourists for their support and cooperation in preserving the natural beauty and ecological balance of Patnitop Tourism Circuit.
“Plastics have adverse effects on all living beings and their ecosystems. Single Use Plastics particularly, have high littering potential and best way is to reduce their usage and gradually shun them. Behavioral change might seem difficult, but it is not impossible. Here, in this picturesque destination, tourists and tourism stakeholders, and the local populace must support the shift away from the reliance on plastics. They can also lead the way through innovation in plastic management, feasible alternatives and pollution management,” Union Minister maintained.
She also conducted public meeting cum grievances redressal camp at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KV) Chenani.
During the camp, Block Development Council Chairman, Parkash Chand, President MC Chenani, Manik Gupta besides Sarpanchs and Panchs projected several demands and issues concerning their respective areas. The issues inter alia included sanctioning of ITI College at Chenani, establishment of Indoor stadium, sanctioning of Nursing college, increase in monthly honorarium of Anganwadi Workers, establishment of Anganwadi centres in every ward, construction of road from Patnitop to Mantalai, land compensation, marketing of local products, shortage of staff in educational institutions, special package for block Chenani, regularization of daily wagers etcetera.
Union Minister, while responding to the issues and demands raised, issued on the spot directions to the concerned officers for resolving the same at the earliest.
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