Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mandeep Kour, today exhorted upon the officers to ensure sustainable and people centric development in rural landscape of Samba district.Commissioner Secretary, while chairing a review meeting with the district administration of Samba, asked the officers to further step up efforts towards achieving the set goals under different development and welfare schemes tailored for socio-economic emancipation of rural and border parts of Jammu and Kashmir.District Development Council Chairman, Keshav Dutt, Vice Chairman, Balwan Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Anuradha Gupta, Mission Director JKRLM, Sehrish Asgar, Director Rural Development Department, Mohammad Mumtaz Ali besides DDC members, Block Development Council Chairman, Block Development Officers and other officials attended the meeting.Reviewing the status of achievements recorded under various schemes of RDD, Commissioner Secretary was informed that 88% works have been completed under District Capex Budget, 99% Adhar Seeding done in MGNREGA, 100% achievement in financial component of PMAY (G) with completion of 97% houses under the scheme, 75% expenditure registered under 14 FC, 336 SHGs were formed under UMEED while 1003 candidates were enrolled under HIMAYAT with company placement of 365 beneficiaries.Commissioner Secretary asked the concerned officers for preparation of sanitization plans with focus on scientific solid and water waste management and biogas generation infrastructure.Regarding tapping of tourism potential in the district, Commissioner Secretary emphasized the need for up gradation of existing facilities for tourists besides exploring possibilities for promotion and development of virgin tourist destinations. She impressed upon the concerned officers to fully involve the PRIs in identification and development of such sites.Commissioner Secretary said that disciplinary action would be taken against those who fail to construct houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna after availing the assistance under the scheme. ”DDCs and BDCs have a responsible role in ensuring timely construction of houses under PMAY(G) in their respective areas”, she added.While reviewing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme, Commissioner Secretary said that in case of wages and materials, the ratio of 40-60% should be maintained in any case for which it is necessary to take steps at the time of planning. She also directed to expedite the process of geo-tagging and Aadhaar seeding.She directed to complete all the works of Total Sanitary Complex before March saying that the work of individual toilets should be expedited and construction of toilets should be ensured in every house under Swachh Bharat Mission.Calling IWMP an important project for renewal of water bodies, Mandeep Kaur said that the district like Samba should get maximum benefit from this program where conventional water resources are shrinking and water scarcity is a big problem.Urging women to become financially independent under Umeed scheme, Commissioner Secretary directed the Deputy Commissioner to hold regular reviews of the scheme implementation and create more groups for larger coverage.Referring to Himayat scheme, Mandeep Kaur said that this will not only enhance the skills of youth but would ensure them employment. She also called for completion of Common Facilitation Center (CFC) and Panchayat Ghars at the earliest. She laid emphasis on creation of SHGs with active linkages with banks and market. “Training of youths under Himayat and subsquent placement will further the government’s objective of driving down unemployment in J&K to below 5 percent”.
