KUPWARA, FEBRUARY 22: Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, Mandeep Kour today visited border Kupwara district and convened a high level joint meeting of officers and PRIs to review the progress of ongoing developmental works under District CAPEX Budget 2021-22.
Chairman DDC Kupwara, Irfan Sultan Pandithpori; Vice Chairman DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir; Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Imam Din; Mission Director JKRLM, Director RDD Kashmir, Director Rural Sanitation, Director Panchayat, Additional Secretary RDD & PR, ADDC Kupwara, JD Planning, besides, DDC Members, BDC Chairpersons, District and Sectoral Officers attended the meeting.
Urging the elected representatives to work proactively, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, J&K UT Mandeep Kaur, IAS asked the grassroot leaders to involve themselves at the formulation of plan at all levels so as to discharge their mandated duties effectively.
To fulfil the dearth of officials in the district, Kaur assured them that new BDOs and JE will be posted immediately.
She also asked the elected representatives to solve all disputes at Panchayat level so that all bottlenecks are removed effectively.
While reviewing MGNREGA, she gave clear cut instructions to complete all the ongoing works of the current year before the end of the fiscal year.
She laid special emphasis on displaying the list of all the approved works under different schemes of the department on Panchayat Information Board (PIB) at Panchayat Ghar.
She also clarified that not every work undertaken at the Panchayat level under MGNREGA has to be 60:40 ratio, however, the ratio is to be maintained strictly at Block and District levels.
Emphasising on gearing up the pace of works in the Panchayats, she asked the concerned to blacklist all the contractors who do not finish the work within the stipulated time frame so that our work is not affected.
She also asked them not to waste the first quarter of the FY so that the funds do not lapse.
Kaur further added that capacity building programmes of PRI members would be conducted to sansitize the representatives with the functioning of schemes at the grassroot level.
The meeting was also informed that many abandoned government buildings have been identified which will be made functional as Panchayat Ghars.
She further asked the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat to take complete ownership of schemes/programmes related to Panchayati Raj.
Regarding internet connectivity of the Panchayats, Commissioner Secretary stressed upon making all the Panchayats connected through internet.
Earlier, the Chairman DDC presented the welcome address and put forth various issues facing the Rural Development Department and the District Development Council.
The Deputy Commissioner Kupwara in his address briefed the dignitary about the developmental profile of the district.
On the occasion, a detailed power point presentation was given and the concerned officers apprised the Commissioner Secretary about various ongoing developmental works of their respective areas.
The Commissioner Secretary took a detailed review of all ongoing works under various schemes of RDD which include CAPEX Budget, RGSA, MGNREGA, PMAY (G), SBM (G), 14th FC, RURBAN, and IWMP.
The Commissioner Secretary was informed that 88 works out of 250 works under BDC/DDC/Residential have been completed so far in the district. Besides, expenditure of Rs.123.18 lakh has been incurred under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) during the current financial year.
It was also informed that 1322 works have been completed under MGNREGA in all 24 blocks of the district. Besides, 1479 houses out of a target of 1575 houses have been constructed under PMAY-G in the district.
Under 14th Finance Commission, it was informed that an expenditure of Rs.8900 lakh have been incurred against completion of 8517 works across 24 blocks of the district. Moreover, Rs.1034.43 lakh have been expended against completion of 549 works under Back to Village Phase 3rd.
Under RURBAN, 1021.41 lakh have been incurred against completion of 143 works.
The Commissioner Secretary also took a review of manpower status of the RDD department in the district and assured for fulfilment of the vacant BDO positions in different blocks of the district with 2 days.
Various issues and demands were raised by the elected representatives which included establishment of new model villages, demarcation of role and responsibilities of DDCs and BDCs, enhancement of MGNREGA supporting staff.
The Commissioner Secretary gave a patient hearing to all the demands and assured them that all their genuine demands would be fulfilled as per the provisions of the scheme.
Later, she took stock of several ongoing works including playground, bridge etc.
She also interacted with the farmers participating in the third phase of Traning Programme of 50 farmers w.e.f 22 February 2022 to 21st March 2022 under the aegis of RURBAN Mission at cluster Khumriyal.
