Grievance redressal camp held at Jagti;  Dr. Karwani reviews Jagti migrant camp development works

JAMMU: A public grievance redressal camp was held under the chairmanship of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M), J&K Dr. Arvind Karwani at Mini Township Jagti-Nagrota Jammu to review the ongoing development works in the migrant camps at Jammu and to take stock of the various day to day issues being faced by the migrants.

Vijay Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (Relief),  Shiwani Bhan, CAO (Relief), Kailash Devi, Assistant  Commissioner (Relief), Sanjeev Kumar Assistant Commissioner (Relief) and senior officers from various line departments viz. Jal Shakti, Public Works, Power Development Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Youth Services & Sports, Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Jammu & Kashmir e-Governance Agency, Health, Education, Urban Environmental Engineering and Revenue.

Tehsildar Nagrota, SDPO Nagrota, Tehsildars/ Camp Commandants of Relief Organization and Incharges Sub-District Hospital Jagti and Higher Secondary School were present. 

Dr. Karwani patiently listened to the grievances of the public, which mainly included about repair/renovation of flats, allotment of shops, allotment of flats, water supply, sanitation, maintenance of parks and power supply. He emphasised upon the officers to ensure due adherence to the recent directions issued by the General Administration Department, wherein responsibilities of Transit Migrant Camps at Jammu and Kashmir have been assigned to various Government Departments. It has been provided in the order that officers not below the rank of Executive Engineer shall liaise /coordinate about the execution/maintenance of works/projects pertaining to their department with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M), J&K.

Dr Karwani reviewed the ongoing development works of various Government Departments. The Jal Shakti Department was asked to expedite the construction of borewells in the Jagti and Nagrota migrant camps to augment the water supply. The officers of the Jal Shakti Department apprised that on the basis of complaints of camp inmates related to the potability of the drinking water, the quality testing of samples was done and reports in this regard are all satisfactory.

The Executive Engineer PW(R&B) Department, apprised about the progress of works going on in the migrant camps viz. Migrant Camp Jagti, Migrant Camp Nagrota, Migrant Camp Muthi - Buta Nagar and Migrant Camp Purkhoo. He was directed to expedite the completion of approved works of repair and renovation works and make street lights functional. It was further directed that the repair/renovation of boundary walls in all migrant camps and water proofing works in the residential flats be completed on priority. PWD(R&B) assured that the ongoing work on multi facility community hall involving financial implications of about Rs 6.5 crore will be completed by the end of the year. 

It was apprised that a major repair renovation project with financial implications of about Rs 84 crore has been framed to address the long pending demand of camp inmates for a major repair and renovation of more than five thousand flats, community halls, school buildings and other infrastructure in migrant camps. Dr Karwani assured the public that efforts are in progress to get approval of the Government and requisite funds for the purpose. The Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) further apprised that Kandoli -Jagti connecting road is in the process of work allotment, which will soon address the concern of residents of Jagti and Nagrota regarding dilapidated condition of road and consequent hindered movement. 

Dr Karwani emphasised that work monitoring committees headed by the concerned camp commandant and including the representatives from public work under the close supervision of Deputy Commissioner(Relief), to prioritize the repair/renovation works and ensure satisfactory work completion of all works. The site engineers were directed to ensure close supervision on ground to ensure the quality of works being executed and time bound completion, as per the stipulated deadline.

The Deputy  Commissioner Relief and Assistant Commissioners Relief were asked to ensure weekly visits in the camps assigned to them as per the roster of duty  and take stock of all development works/ problems of migrants, including grievances related to immovable properties in Kashmir Valley. They were asked to maintain close coordination with the Additional Deputy Commissioner of the concerned districts, appointed as Nodal Officers for the purpose in terms of a Government Order in this regard recently.

The Jammu Municipal Corporation was asked to redress the complaints of inmates regarding the quality of sanitation work and asked to deploy additional manpower to further improve day to day sanitation facility viz. collection, transportation and disposal of garbage and refuse in the migrant camps. The Department of Youth Services & Sports was asked to expedite the proposal for the maintenance of open spaces/ playgrounds, organize physical education activities and also promote Scouts and Guides activities in the migrant camps.

The Department of Floriculture, Gardens & Parks was asked to expedite the proposal for development of open spaces and undertake maintenance of existing parks and implement various centrally sponsored schemes. The Health Department was asked to organize special health camps at migrants camps in Jammu on monthly basis and also deploy specialist doctors on rotation basis in Nagrota, Purkhoo and Muthi/Butanagar camps on weekly basis.

UEED was asked to examine and furnish a proposal of planning, designing and construction of works of sewerage and drainage in all the migrant camps and deal with issues of public health, to protect the inhabitants of migrant camps from the adverse environmental factors. JAKEDA was asked to expedite the proposal for installation and maintenance of solar lights and promotion/implementation of schemes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India in the migrant camps.

The Department of Rural Development and Panchayati was asked to promote skill development programmes to enhance employability and support rural entrepreneurship. The Executive Engineer Jammu Power Development Corporation was asked to deploy additional linemen at migrant camp Jagti, particularly for the summer months.

The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs was asked to look into the complaints of some inmates about the distribution of ration and the demand of residents for supply of flour in the ration depots. It was further impressed that the modalities for integration of the ration cards of the Kashmiri/ Jammu Migrants into the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database, be expedited to enable them to avail the benefit of various Government Schemes. 

Regarding the allotment of shops, Dr Karwani asked the camp inmates to submit their claims/objections against the provisional list issued by the Relief Organisation (M) in the camp office/head office, against dated receipt. He directed the committee of officers headed by the Deputy Commissioner Relief to scrutinize carefully all the claims/objections thoroughly and ensure no genuine claimant is left out.

Regarding the allotment of flats in the migrant camps, Dr Karwani assured the public that the allotments will be made to the poor and underprivileged sections of the society in a transparent and accountable manner, with preference given to widows, persons with disabilities and those suffering from life consuming diseases, solely dependent on relief assistance. He asked the public to stay cautious against criminal elements and middlemen trying to exploit innocent and gullible persons with the promise of providing them flats or getting their work done. He strongly emphasised on zero tolerance against corruption. Public was asked not to approach any middlemen/agent and instead avail the service of daily grievance redressal mechanism of Relief Organization, wherein all officers and officials of Relief Organisation are connected daily at 12 noon from head office and all Zones.

Tehsildar Nagrota and SDPO Nagrota were asked to organise awareness camps in Migrant Camps at Jagti and Nagrota against the menace of drugs and take action on the complaints of some locals about movement of anti-social elements in the camps. SDPO Nagrota was asked to increase deployment of police to keep watch on anti-social and criminal elements and safeguard entry and exit points in the camps.