DDC Poonch convenes public grievances redressal camp at Border Block Balakote

• Listens to public demands, assures early redressal, awareness on government welfare schemes

POONCH: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma today held a Public Grievances Redressal Camp at the border block Balakote to listen to the issues and demands of the residents of the area.

At the outset, SDM Mendhar, Imran Kataria, extended a warm welcome to the DDC and locals and public representatives, including Ex-Sarpanchs and prominent citizens from adjoining areas. He expressed gratitude to the DDC for reaching out to the locals and listening to their concerns.

During the public outreach programme, a large number of locals protected several key issues and demands, seeking adequate staff in local schools, deployment of Animal and Sheep Husbandry doctors, completion of JJM lift water schemes, improvement in mobile network connectivity, construction of bunkers, installation of an X-ray machine at Dargloon, construction of a Tehsil Office Building at Dhargloon, provision of public bathrooms and CSC centres, issuance of job cards and renovation of local roads.

Residents also demanded promotion of high density apple plantation and other horticulture projects in the block They sought the construction of new and improvement of existing roads, including Bhrooti–Basooni Road, Ziarat–Chapper Dhara Road, Basooni Village Road and Basooni Base–Pir Gali Road, among others.

The DDC gave a patient hearing to all grievances and assured that genuine demands will be addressed on priority. He directed the concerned officers to take immediate action to resolve pressing public issues. While addressing the gathering, the DDC urged people to avail the benefits of the government schemes, particularly in the agriculture, horticulture and banking sectors. He encouraged farmers to adopt mushroom cultivation, peanut farming and establish local produce-based processing units by availing the government subsidy support. He further encouraged them to install solar Panels under PM Surya Bijli Ghar scheme and other renewable energy initiatives.

The DDC further directed the stakeholder departments to intensify awareness campaigns to promote government schemes so that maximum number of people can benefit from welfare initiatives. He also made a strong appeal to parents to keep a close watch on their children and protect them from the menace of drug abuse, while encouraging youth to focus on education and career development instead.

On the occasion, the Lead District Manager (LDM) sensitized the public about the banking schemes and urged them to take advantage of financial inclusion and credit-linked subsidy programmes.  SE PWD, Rakesh Sharma, DFO, Mushtaq Ahmed, Tehsildar Balakote, Shahid Iqbal, executive engineers besides other district and sectoral officers were also present.