Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, today convened a meeting with the field functionaries to assess gaps in infrastructure development and plan measures for improvement in border villages through convergence of different schemes.
“The department has formulated a detailed plan for development of critical infrastructure in all border villages in the UT. Community development, youth skilling and empowering village communities for planning and asset management are key components of the plan besides addressing specific infrastructure gaps”, stated the Secretary.
Director, RDD Kashmir, Shabir Hussain Bhat, Director RDD Jammu, Mumtaz Ali, Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal, Director Finance, Umar Khan, Director Planning, Kamal Kumar Sharma and other senior officers attended the meeting. The Assistant Commissioners Development, Assistant Commissioners Panchayat and Block Development Officers from Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora made detailed presentations about their village development plans.
Dr Shahid said that the department is initiating a flagship program for border areas to address the infrastructure demands with focus on empowering the village communities. He reviewed the plans formulated by various districts. He suggested crucial interventions for improving economic condition in these villages, by introducing income generating activities, economic development and social growth.
He stressed to ensure development of smart classrooms, model Anganwadi centres, tourism facilities, panchayat ghars, common service centres, sanitation facilities, high density horticulture plantation, milk and wool processing units, development of village roads, drinking water facilities and special interventions for women, children and specially abled persons besides senior citizen and youth specific planning.
Shabir Hussain discussed about development of home stays in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora and provision of machinery for milk chilling plans, horticulture crops and infrastructure in essential service sectors. Mumtaz Ali dwelled on plans for various border districts of Jammu with focus on schools, village infrastructure, milk production, haats and other facilities. Besides, the BDOs made detailed presentations about gap analysis, assessment and planning for village development in their respective districts.
Sham Lal shared the plan under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan for development of Panchayat Ghars, Common Service Centres and Libraries. The officers briefed the field officers about the interventions proposed under the Digital Village concept and capacity building of village communities, skilling of youth group with focus on self employment revenues.