Modi also meets sculptor Jamwal
Avtar Bhat
SAMBA, Apr 24: The joy of two Sarpanchs and eight Panchs of Palli and Birpur Upper Panchayts as well as renowned sculptor Padamshri, Randir Jamwal knew no bounds when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi despite his busy schedule showed his desire to meet them on his visit to Palli Panchayat in Samba district during the celebration of National Panchayat Day today.
This was all beyond their expectations and all the Panchs and Sarpanchs were surprised to know that world’s great leader is going to meet them and they will share their experience about the development of Panchayat under the various development projects launched by Modi Government with him.
Palli Sarpanch Randhir Sharma said PM asked him and Panchs who accompanied him during meeting to have a solemn pledge to leave no stone unturned for the development of their Panchayat so that no one lags behind and ensure that all people living in the village have their own house. Sharma said Prime Minister said that he wanted to see that poverty is eradicated from villages and the developmental works and projects in this regard are fully implemented so that the people at grassroots level are benefitted.
He said PM inquired about the various welfare and development schemes run by his Government in the Palli Panchayat which included Ayushman Bharat, Rain water harvesting, Amrit Sarovar scheme, PM Awas Yojna and others.
Randhir said he and the Panchs feel elated and encouraged as the Prime Minister showed keen interest in listening them and enquiring about the implementation of all Central Government schemes for development and welfare of Panchayts in the area.
“We gave feedback about all schemes to PM including Ayushman Bharat. Making the Palli Panchayat carbon free we informed Modi that Rikshas have been started in the Panchayat for last six months while solar cookers have been provided to every household and electronic bus is also plying in the Panchayat”, he added.
Regarding Amrit Sarovar, the Prime Minister was informed by us that out of nine ponds in the Palli Panchayat the work on two ponds has been completed while on third one it is going on. The work on rest will be completed within two years, he said. Besides, under rain harvesting out of 724 households in the Panchayat Palli, 35 percent houses have been covered, he added.
The Sarpanch informed PM that 12 families are either without houses or have Kachha houses and for providing Pacca houses to them the first installment of money has been given to the beneficiaries.
Sarpanch Randhir said that Prime Minister urged them that they should celebrate the Panchayat Day every year with fervour and gaiety like a festival and involve all people of the Panchayat in its celebrations.
The other team of Panchayat representatives with whom Prime Minister interacted during his visit included Naib Sarpanch Palli, Banarsi Lal, Panchs, Anil Kumar, Mohinder Kumar, Rani Devi, Yash Pal, Sunita Devi and Naresh Sharma.
The Prime Minister also met Ravinder Jamwal, a renowned sculptor of J&K and his wife who is also Sarpanch of Upper Birpur Panchayat in Samba district. Jamwal has made six feet long bust of Narendra Modi in Palli Panchayat in fiber glass.
Jamwal said “After a TV channel interviewed him yesterday which was also telecast later I received a message that PM wanted to see me during his visit to Palli Panchayat today”.
“As I met Modi he patted me and asked me to remove the mask as he wanted to have a photo with me”, Jamwal added.
He said “I was accompanied by my wife Veena Jamwal who is also Sarpanch of Birpur Upper”. The PM asked me whether I have visited the Unity statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat and seen it. But I replied in negative and said that I have not seen it. He insisted me to visit the place to see it”.
The Prime Minister said that the artists need appreciation which were really encouraging words for me, he said, adding that such appreciation was missing in the J&K though he had made many grand statues in the UT and erstwhile State but never got such applause. “I feel very encouraged by the words of Prime Minister and this meant a lot for me as my lifelong dream came true. I could not believe myself to hear such encouraging words from Prime Minister who is also a towering world leader”, he added.
The Prime Minister during his conversation with Sarpanch, Upper Birpur, Veena Jamwal also enquired from her about the development works in her Panchayat and implementation of various Central Government schemes. She informed him that the schemes sanctioned by Central Government are being implemented in letter and spirit in her Panchayat and meeting PM was a dream come true, she added.
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