Rana reviews development progress in Poonch

• Exhorts officers to ensure benefits reach genuine beneficiaries

POONCH: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today chaired a review meeting at Poonch to assess the progress on ongoing developmental works and welfare initiatives being implemented across the district. The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner, senior district officers, sectoral heads and representatives of line departments.

Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal, former Director Agriculture Kashmir and CEO, SKUAST-Kashmir, was present as a special invitee. During the meeting, District Development Commissioner, Ashok Kumar Sharma presented a comprehensive overview of the physical and financial status of projects being executed under UT Capex, District Capex and other flagship schemes.

The briefing covered a wide range of sectors, including Minor Irrigation, Elementary Education, Health, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Youth Services & Sports, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Horticulture, Urban Development and allied departments. Key infrastructure and institutional projects reviewed included the Mini Secretariats at Mendhar and Poonch, Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Mendhar, University Campus and Motorable Double-Lane Bridge at Sathra.

The Minister also reviewed the implementation and progress of major social sector initiatives such as Amrit Sarovar, Jal Jeevan Mission and various tribal welfare programmes.

Emphasizing the importance of timely execution, Rana directed all the departments to ensure expeditious completion of ongoing projects, stating that delays directly affect the public service delivery. He underscored the need for a robust monitoring mechanism to guarantee that the benefits of government schemes reach the intended and genuine beneficiaries.

The Minister stressed that teamwork, transparency, accountability and integrity must remain central to governance at all levels. Reviewing the progress under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Minister instructed the officers to scale up the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to enhance livelihood opportunities and promote economic empowerment, particularly among the rural and tribal communities.

Tourism development also featured prominently in the deliberations. The Chief Executive Officer, Tourism, briefed the meeting on ongoing tourism-related projects. The Minister highlighted Poonch’s immense untapped tourism potential and called for focused efforts to strengthen the infrastructure and promote sustainable tourism.

Additionally, the Minister reviewed the implementation of major employment and livelihood schemes such as MGNREGA, IWMP and SANKALP, along with an assessment of the district’s achievements and future development targets.

Rana urged all the officers to work with renewed dedication and a people-centric approach, ensuring that development initiatives are completed within stipulated timelines and genuinely improve the quality of life for the people of Poonch.