State
RDD schemes remodelled to stimulate rural economy: Haq Khan
JAMMU, JAN 23: Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq Khan said that various programmes and schemes launched by the government aimed for holistic development of rural areas of the state. He said the effective implementation of RDD schemes has changed the lives of people by reshaping the rural economy.
The Minister was replying to the discussion on working of Rural Development Department in the Legislative Council, here today.
With a view to enlighten the House, the Minister highlighted various achievements made by the department during the past three years and also outlined the future strategy to bring era of development in the rural areas of the state.
He said the department has laid a network of roads, bridges and culverts in the state under MGNREGA that has changed the socio-economic status of the rural populace.
âIn a first, RDD has done some commendable job after launching MGNREGA scheme in the State, which has been acknowledged at national level and has also won many awards in last three years,â he said.
Under MGNREGA, the department has set short terms missions with an aim to create durable assets for the people of rural areas, while jobs are created during the last three years, he added.
He said that it has identified the rural connectivity a major challenge in rural areas and hence took up the task to focus on rural connectivity in first two years and has constructed 679 bridges, 2283 culverts, 31337 roads during the period.
The Minister further informed that the department has also constructed 2696 ponds, 885 check dams , 3617 water harvesting tanks , 561 play fields, 72 fisheries ponds, 55 Anganwari centers, renovation of 4622 traditional water bodies and 20143 micro irrigation works while providing jobs to 23.90 lac persons.
âOur main focus is on water harvesting in kandi areas including construction of water harvesting tanks, check dams and other small dams in upper belts to conserve the water,â he added.
He said that after introduction of technology to monitor the assets, all the assets in the districts have been geo-tagged and it is a touchstone of transparency that will enforce better monitoring, recording and management of development works at the cutting edge level.
He further informed that one ombudsman will be shortly engaged for two districts in the state to look into complaints to bring transparency and accountability in the system.
It was a breakthrough for the department in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the State by adopting e-FMS in which system allows direct transfer of fund from State Account to Job card holderâs Account, reducing human intervention and delays in wage payment, he said.
To boost self-esteem and self-confidence of women folk especially living in rural areas, the Minister informed that biggest success of UMEED scheme in the state is that currently 2.08 lakh women are associated with the 22270 Self Helf Groups formed under the scheme in 68 blocks of the state.
He further stated that JKSRLM has also been entrusted with the responsibility of training and placing over 1.24 lakh JK youth with an allocation of Rs 1,601.51 crore for a period of three years under Himayat Scheme.
Srinagar, April 22: Asserting that people of Anantnag will defeat the divisive and wrong policies of Modi and Muftis in present elections, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has reiterated its appeal to people to ensure the defeat of deceptive policies on the part of PDP-BJP.
In a statement the Party spokesperson has expressed confidence that people of Anantnag will vote in large numbers against âdivisive and wrong policiesâ adopted by PM Narinder Modi, Muftis and others, who were hell bent upon to divide people for electoral gains, but, at some time, he felt confident that they (people) have realized how much damage has been caused to Jammu and Kashmir state in every respect by PDP-BJP unholy alliance to serve their vested interests.
Time has come to respond to their opportunist and divisive policies by ensuring their defeat in the elections, as that, will ensure peace and development in the State, Spokesperson said.
I would appeal the people of entire Anantnag to cast their vote in favour of Congress Party in large numbers to ensure that Communal, divisive and opportunist forces were defeated miserably.
Both PDP and BJP owe an explanation to people for betraying them and playing with their emotions for the sake of coming into the power, the spokesperson added and said the defeat of PDP-BJP in the present elections will be an appropriate response to their opportunism, exploitation and betrayal, Spokesperson said.
He said Congress Party will not allow PDP, BJP or any other political force to play with the sentiments of people for political mileage and is fully capable to defeat their designs. Congress Party has always taken care of urges and aspirations of the people in all the three regions and is fully committed to ensuring equitable development of J&K.
State
ï»żMehbooba hits out at PM over nuclear bombs remark
âPakistan has not kept their for Eid eitherâ
Srinagar, April 22: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing nuclear bombs in the political discourse, saying if India has not kept the nuclear bomb for Diwali, Pakistan has not kept its for Eid.
During a rally in Rajasthanâs Barmer Sunday, Modi had said India is no more afraid of nuclear threats of Pakistan.
âOtherwise every other day Pakistan used to give nuclear threats. What do we have? Have we kept it for âDiwaliâ? (Warna aay din nuclear button hai, ye kehte the. Hamare paas kya hai? Ye diwali ke liye rakha hai kya),â he asserted.
Mufti tweeted, âIf India hasnât kept nuclear bomb for Diwali, itâs obvious Pakistanâs not kept theirs for Eid either. Donât know why PM Modi must stoop so low & reduce political discourse to this.â
Srinagar, April 22: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday demanded adequate number of exam centres for NEET aspirants in Kashmir so that the hardships they face by traveling outside Valley are avoided.
In a statement issued to media, PDP General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said that in view of the highway ban, inclement weather, dilapidated condition of national highway and sky rocketing airfares, the NEET aspirants are made to face immense hardships for appearing in the exams.
Hanjura said that keeping in view the predicament being witnessed by the student community at large in Kashmir Valley; it is high time for the Ministry of Human Resource Development to allot more number of NEET exam centres in Kashmir Valley so that without any hindrance Kashmiri students could appear in the exams.
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