Secretary RDD reviews progress on PMAY-G, Panchayat Bhawan electrification, Amrit Sarovar Phase II

• Asks for thorough audit of RDD assets in all 285 blocks

SRINAGAR: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RDD&PR), Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Saturday conducted a comprehensive review of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Rashtriya Gramin Swaraj Abhiyaan (RGSA) besides assessing progress on second phase of Mission Amrit Sarovar.

The meeting was attended by Director RDD Kashmir, Shabir Hussain Bhat, Director RDD Jammu, Mumtaz Ali, Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal, Director Finance, Umar Khan, Joint Director Planning, Kamal Kumar Sharma, Additional Secretary RD&PR, Waseem Raja, Superintending Engineer REW Kashmir, Er. Aamir Ali, Superintending Engineer REW Jammu, Er Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary RDD, Sheetal Pandita, OSD to Secretary, Shafiq Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner Development (ACDs), ACPs and BDOs of both the divisions.

The Secretary conducted a comprehensive district-wise review of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and assessed the scheme's physical and financial progress across Jammu and Kashmir. He directed ACDs to verify progress at the block level and motivate field officers to accelerate completion. Aijaz Asad laid emphasis on aligning PMAY-G with other schemes, including MGNREGA, to enhance rural infrastructure and household amenities.

“Many rural areas depend on MGNREGA for livelihoods. Now, with the integration of schemes like PMAY-G, SBM, and Ujjwala, we are creating a composite model. From gas connections to individual household latrines (IHHL) and power installations, multiple benefits are reaching beneficiaries under a unified framework,” maintained.

The Secretary reiterated government’s commitment towards achieving 100% target completion under PMAY-G. The Secretary stressed the importance of actively engaging beneficiaries by organizing group interactions at designated locations. “Beneficiaries need to be motivated to complete their houses. Recovery notices can be issued to encourage action, and counselling sessions should be provided for those facing challenges,” he said.

He highlighted the role of incentives, noting, “When disincentives are minimized and incentives are maximised, nearly 90% of the beneficiaries will be ready to take necessary steps.” Special attention has been accorded to beneficiaries who had not received the first instalment. The Secretary directed field officers to verify these cases on priority. “Ensure that those willing to construct houses and with verified land ownership are supported, while legacy data of ineligible cases should be cleared from the system,” he stated.

Aijaz Asad emphasized the importance of consistent monitoring, tasking both directors of the Rural Development Department to oversee first instalment cases. Regular updates on progress were mandated to eliminate delays and bottlenecks. The Secretary also conducted a review of the electrification and broadband connectivity status for Panchayat Ghars across Jammu and Kashmir.

Discussing electrification of Panchayat Ghars, the Secretary reiterated the urgency of addressing pending electricity connections. Officials were instructed to identify Panchayats without power and ensure applications are filed by December 6, 2024. He also set a deadline of December 7 for submission of a detailed report on the status of applications, detailing which Panchayat Ghars have power connections and which are still pending.

He also instructed both the Directors of Rural Development to prepare a district-wise report detailing: Panchayat Ghars with completed electrification and Panchayat Ghars still awaiting connection. Highlighting the importance of digital infrastructure, the Secretary underscored the need to ensure broadband connectivity for Panchayat Ghars as part of the Bharat Net Phase III initiative.

To streamline the process, he directed Assistant Commissioner Panchayats (ACPs) to track functional and non-functional sites. He asked them to submit status report on Bharat Net sites by December 7, 2024.

The Secretary announced plans for site visits to assess progress firsthand and directed officials to prioritize Panchayat Ghars in underserved areas. He also outlined key directives to accelerate the implementation of the second phase of the Amrit Sarovar Mission, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening water conservation efforts across Jammu and Kashmir.

During a meeting, the Secretary emphasized the importance of leveraging lessons from Phase I to enhance the efficiency and impact of Phase II. “There were instances where selected sites offered limited economic or utility benefits, despite groundwater recharge potential. Moving forward, we must focus on selecting locations with significant social, economic, or environmental advantages,” the Secretary said.

The Secretary also called for a thorough audit and monitoring of Rural Development assets across Jammu and Kashmir. He directed both Directors of Rural Development to conduct a detailed audit of all assets, including land holdings, constructed shops, and other infrastructure under the department. Regular monitoring and verification of these assets is crucial said the Minister while asking for a comprehensive report detailing the assets owned by the department.