Aijaz Asad reviews RDD schemes in Shopian, directs enhanced focus on durable assets, infrastructure

SHOPIAN: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR), Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of departmental schemes in Shopian district.

The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner, Shopian, Shishir Gupta; Additional District Development Commissioner, Dr. Nasir Ahmad Lone; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Zakir Hussain Faaz; Assistant Commissioner Development, Manzoor Ahmad; District Panchayat Officer, District Informatics Officer, Block Development Officers, Assistant Engineers, and sectoral officers. 

During the meeting, Secretary reviewed the status of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Project UNNATI, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G), and UT Capex and assessed targets and achievements of the district under these schemes.

Secretary held detailed deliberations with Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Assistant Commissioner Panchayat (ACP), Block Development Officers (BDOs) and other staff of the department instructing them to focus on achieving the targets set for various schemes. He emphasized optimizing the functionality of 94 community compost pits constructed in the district.

Secretary directed Block Development Officers (BDOs) to train communities in efficient compost formation and explore market linkages to generate income from organic waste. “These pits should transition from mere structures to sustainable income sources for panchayats,” he said.  Highlighting the functionality of Amrit Sarovars, Secretary stressed their maintenance and transformation into community leisure spots. “Regular cleaning and aesthetic development of these water bodies will boost local tourism and provide recreational spaces,” he said, urging collaboration with Panchayats. 

Secretary called for prioritizing durable rural assets under MGNREGA and UT Capex to ensure long-term benefits.  On waste management, he mandated scientific segregation protocols and utilization of existing rural infrastructure for efficient disposal. “Door-to-door collection must align with segregation practices to achieve Swachh Bharat’s ODF-plus goals,” he added. 

Reviewing the construction of Panchayat Ghars, Secretary directed resolving pending land disputes to expedite work. For PMAY-G, he reinforced the need for stringent verification of new registrations to prevent discrepancies and ensure timely disbursal of payments to beneficiaries.

Secretary reiterated the department’s commitment to “equitable and eco-sensitive development,” urging officials to leverage schemes for enhancing rural livelihoods and infrastructure. DC Shopian, Shishir Gupta assured coordinated efforts to meet targets, stating, “Shopian will emerge as a model district in sustainable rural transformation.”

Assistant Commissioner Development presented a detailed overview of progress across flagship programs. Achievements under MGNREGA highlighted the creation of rural infrastructure, while PMAY-G’s success in housing delivery and new registrations was reviewed. Project UNNATI and IWMP’s role in livelihood generation and watershed management were also discussed.