MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, GA Khatana chair DISHA district review meeting in Jammu

JAMMU: A high-level District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting was held today in Jammu under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament (Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency) Jugal Kishore Sharma and co- chairmanship of Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana at Panchayat Bhawan.

District Development Council Chairman Bharat Bhushan, all MLAs from Jammu district, Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya and senior officers from across departments were also present. The meeting began with a comprehensive presentation by the Deputy Commissioner, who outlined the implementation status of major central government schemes, highlighting achievements while also identifying critical bottlenecks.

Delivering a message of urgency and accountability, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said such meetings must go beyond infrastructure reviews to reflect “Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of timely delivery and citizen empowerment.” He urged officials to take full responsibility for delays in development works and to adopt a stronger service mindset.

MP Sharma called for a detailed review of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), with an emphasis on strengthening grievances redressal mechanism. He reiterated the scheme’s ₹5 lakh annual health coverage per family, along with a ₹5 lakh top-up benefit for senior citizens above 70. He directed officials to raise awareness among beneficiaries and make empanelled hospitals easily identifiable.

He also assessed delays in the Indri-Pattan bridge and specific segments of the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway, stressing timely execution and quality assurance. Speaking on urban services, he cited AMRUT 2.0 as potentially transformative for tap water access and modernization of sewerage system but cautioned that “impact must be visible on the ground.”

Addressing electricity issues, he acknowledged public dissatisfaction despite smart meter rollouts, and urged that “technological upgrades must result in uninterrupted supply.” He also called for immediate fixes to low-hanging cables. Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana expressed concern over continued irregularities in water supply, despite large investments under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He emphasised the need for effective service delivery, not just infrastructure creation.

DDC Chairman Bharat Bhushan stressed the need for spreading mass awareness of key schemes. He said PM-JAY entitlements and empanelled hospitals should be clearly displayed for public reference. He reviewed MGNREGA implementation and also called for creating new self-help groups. He further addressed safety concerns around HDPE pipes, clarifying these are standard nationwide.

The MLAs from Jammu district highlighted constituency-specific issues, calling for augmentation of water supply, accelerating in repair of hand pumps and tubewells, maintenance of roads and drains, fixing of low-hanging utility cables. Several called for expansion of OPD and diagnostic services in government hospitals, especially in underserved areas.

They also demanded better functioning of Pani Samitis, improved duty rosters to address staff shortages in utility departments, and firm deadlines for long-pending works. A common concern was the need for stronger quality monitoring and project accountability. Concluding the meeting, the MP remarked, “Schemes and funding are in place—what’s desired is timely and united execution. We must deliver with urgency and integrity.”