By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : The Department of Rural Development is looking forward to complete work on 90 per cent model villages by the end of March this year. Over one hundred sixty villages have been selected across the state for developing them as model villages with guaranteed provision for amenities like health, education, power, safe potable water and sanitation to latest facilities like internet equipped information centres to recreation parks and play grounds.
The information was given by Minister for Rural development Mula Ram at a meeting convened by him to review the functioning of the department here on Monday. Minister of state for Rural Development Ajaiz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Rural Development Mr. M S Sayed besides senior officers of Jammu division were present.
Stressing the need for constant monitoring at various level of implementation of various schemes, Minister directed for making the entire process, right from project estimation to execution of works time bound, especially those being taken up under flagship schemes like National Rural Employment Guarantee programme (NREGA) and Haryali.
Describing the flagship, National Rural Employment Guarantee programme as a mission,Mula Ram said that there was a need for taking a collective responsibility by all concerned as only then the benefits could percolate down to the grass root level.
Stressing for diversification of activities under NREGA, Mula Ram said that he would be soon visiting to New Delhi where he would pursue the Rural Development Union Ministry and senior leaders including Mrs Sonia Ghandi and Prime Minister to allow the state to take up activities suitable to its topography.
Reviewing the implementation of Haryali project, Mula Ram said that the officers should be very cautious in selection of plantation over the waste lands taken for treatment, particularly for horticulture purpose. He said fruit plantation should be in compatibility with the nature of the soil adding that improvement of the varieties already being grown in the area was the best option to get the optimal results.
Supplementing the suggestions of his senior collogue, Aijaz also said that only those activities should be encouraged which would show a forward trend on the economic graph of the area. He said only achieving financial targets would not help in getting the desired results intended under a particular scheme.
Sharing his experiences with the officers, Mr. Aijaz called for switching over to the activities which had scope for early returns to the people.
Making special reference to the Haryali scheme, Mr. Aijaz asked the officers to move ahead with specific targets in mind. He said their performances would be judged on certain indicators where enhancement of production and improvement of living condition of the targeted area and population would be the basic parameters.
Earlier, Secretary Rural Development Mr M S Khan presented a brief overview of the functioning of the department and sought the suggestions of the ministers on certain points.