Secretary School Education, Dr. Piyush Singla, today presided over a mega public darbar at Government Higher Secondary School, Forelain of Barnoti block in Kathua to assess and address the issues and concerns of the people. Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rakesh Minhas, Director School Education, Ashok Kumar Sharma, ADDC, Ankur Mahajan, CPO, Ranjit Thakur, Heads of various Departments and other senior officers from the district administration, the Secretary listened to the grievances and demands of the public.
Chairman District Development Council, Colonel Mahan Singh (Retired) along with other PRI representatives and various local delegations participated in the public outreach programme. The participants presented their development issues seeking intervention of the Secretary in timely redressal of the same.
Among the prevalent grievances were deteriorating roads, irregular power supply, inadequate healthcare facilities, improvement in public health institutions, upgradation of school infrastructure, shortage of staff, establishment of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Degree College for the area, filling up of vacant posts in schools and colleges.
DDC Chairman appreciated the public darbars as a great initiative towards redressing public issues at their doorsteps exemplifying good governance aimed at minimising the difficulties of common masses. He also put forth the demand of taking up more roads of hilly and isolated areas of Kathua besides augmenting drinking water availability through handpumps.
Dr. Singla assured the attendees that all their issues would be addressed on merit basis, with immediate instructions issued to the officials for timely resolution. Regarding the issue of shortage of school staff, Dr Singla assured that an extensive rationalisation drive for school teachers will be held in coming months so as to meet the teacher availability in schools.
Referring to the initiatives of School Education Department, Dr Piyush Singla said measures such as model schools and smart classrooms are being taken up to upgrade the school infrastructure in line with modern teaching-learning practices. He said the department is also holding DPCs to give timely promotions to the eligible.
Highlighting the significance of public darbar initiative, Dr. Singla stressed its role in expeditiously addressing the citizen grievances. He directed the Heads of Departments to effectively promote government initiatives and schemes to ensure maximum public benefit.