KUPWARA, SEPTEMBER 13 : Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla today said that Union Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a good dream for development of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the present out-reach programme has been initiated by the Government to know the basic problems of the people at ground level for its timely resolution. The Minister, who reached here this morning for two day tour under Union Government’s public outreach programme, was addressing a joint meeting of District Development Council(DDC) Members, Chairpersons of Block Development Council (BDC) ,PRIs and the administration The Vice Chairman DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Imam Din, Managing Director, STSC Board, Social Welfare Department, Mohammad Saleem and concerned officers were present at the occasion. The Minister said that he was feeling great happiness while talking one to one to the public representatives of the frontier district Kupwara. He assured that the requests, issues and grievances projected by PRIs, deputations and the public have been taken note of and the same would be put up with Government at Union level as well as with Lieutenant Governor for redressal, Shri Barla added. The Minister said that he was very much impressed by peaceful atmosphere and supportive and cooperative attitude of the people here, adding that some vested interests are misleading the rest of the country about the situation in Kashmir. John Barla said that he will tell to the people across India about the peaceful environment and hospitality of the Kashmiri people. Congratulating the PRIs and administration for successful establishment of three tier Panchayati Raj System, the Minister said that the three tier system of government was available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir first time in the history of independence, adding that it was the joint responsibility of Administration and PRIs to boost the developmental tempo of rural economy. The Minister said that Government of India has been already working on various flagship programmes aimed at to develop socio economic status of the people and number of new schemes are also in pipeline, adding that the need of the hour is to generate a massive awareness regarding all welfare schemes so that the benefits of these schemes could percolate down to the grassroot level. He urged upon the PRIs to go through the compendium of the schemes, which was provided to them earlier, and get their proper use in the field. Earlier the VC DDC; members of DDC and BDC council and president Muncipal Council , Kupwara spoke on the occasion and presented charter of demands of respective areas to the Minister. All the members expressed their gratitude for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating public outreach programme by Union Ministers. The Deputy Commissioner Kupwara also spoke on the occasion and gave the welcome address. He briefed the house about various Centrally Sponsored Schemes being successfully carried out in the district. Vote of thanks was presented by DDC Member Hyhama, Sona Uallah Khan. Later in the second session of the interactive meetings, various deputations met the Minister and projected demands.
