SRINAGAR, APRIL 29: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR), Mohammad Aijaz Asad, conducted a comprehensive review of key rural development initiatives across the Union Territory, including the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), the status of Panchayat Ghars (PGs), and the functionality of Panchayat Learning Centres (PLCs).
The high-level meeting was attended by Director RDD Kashmir Shabir Hussain Bhat, Director RDD Jammu Mumtaz Ali, Director Panchayati Raj Sham Lal, Joint Director Planning Kamal Kumar Sharma, Superintending Engineer REW Jammu Er Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Secretaries Sheetal Pandita and Bilal Ahmad, OSD to Secretary Shafiq Ahmad, as well as all Assistant Commissioners Development (ACDs), ACPs, and Executive Engineers from both divisions.
During the review, Secretary Asad held detailed discussions with ACPs regarding the construction status of Panchayat Ghars, with emphasis on land availability, tendering delays, and completion rates. He directed immediate resolution of land identification issues and urged Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to personally intervene in districts where land acquisition hurdles remain unresolved. Taking a view over abandoned and incomplete Panchayat Ghars, the Secretary instructed both Directors of RDD to conduct a comprehensive assessment, including: Number of abandoned or stalled structures, Status of physical work executed, Funds utilized and Additional financial requirements for completion. He directed that the report be submitted within one week to enable further action under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
The Secretary also emphasized the integration of old structures with newly approved design standards, in order to optimize resource use and ensure functionality.
Reviewing the status of PLCs, Secretary Asad instructed field officials to ensure that all PLCs are made fully functional within a week, and that any logistical or staffing gaps are addressed without delay. In the context of PMAY-G, the Secretary emphasized the timely completion of pending houses, rigorous monitoring, and accuracy of beneficiary data. He reviewed cumulative physical and financial progress under the scheme, including updates from the ongoing Awaas Plus Survey.