Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5 : Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today distributed cheques worth Rs 28 lakh to beneficiaries of block Khour covered under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) of Rural Development Department.
A total of 110 beneficiaries of IAY were distributed cheques of Rs. 25000, as first installment of financial assistance for construction of dwelling units. Ten Panchayats of the Block were covered including Dori, Dager, Khara, Nathal, Sawama, Kangoli, Dehrian, Kaleeth, Bakore and Hamirpur.
Reiterating commitment of the Government to develop rural and backward belts of the State, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said work on the roadmap to upgrade rural infrastructure is apace and focused attention is being paid to uplift socio-economic profile of the rural folks. He said with active support of the Union Government various schemes have been initiated in the rural sector for benefit of those who are living in far-off border areas of the State and have limited access to the resources.
Directing to maintain quality standards in works, the Deputy Chief Minister said that routine inspections should be done to keep a tab on pilferage and to ensure use of good quality material in development works undertaken by the department. He said under BADP two major projects of cluster model villages are underway at Pargwal and Khour involving works worth crores of rupees, adding that durable infrastructure can only be created when proper standards are maintained in work execution.
Calling upon Sarpanchs to be agents of positive change, the Deputy Chief Minister said elected representatives of local self Government should work with missionary zeal and ensure that better infrastructure is created in their respective Pachayats.
Underlining importance of training for the elected representatives of Pachayats, Tara Chand directed the Director, Rural Development Department to organize full day training program for the Sarpanchs and Panchs, so as to clear doubts regarding the Panchayati Act.
He said fully empowered Panchayati Raj is ambition of the Government and several steps have been taken to ensure that various provisions of the Act are implemented in letter and spirit, adding that elected members once aware of their duties and responsibilities, can perform in a better and efficient manner.
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