Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today said equipping rural and far flung areas of the State with all required infrastructure is priority of the Government and mega-projects have been launched to upgrade rural infrastructure. He said focused attention is being paid to transform development profile of these areas which were lagging behind in the overall development front.
“We are committed to the people living in far-off border belts of the State and all out efforts have been launched to address development aspirations of these people,” he added.
He was addressing a public rally of Sarpanchs, Panchs and local representatives at Khour.
Laying stress on generating awareness about different Government schemes and programs, the Deputy Chief Minister said that series of mega awareness camps have been organised by labor, agriculture, social welfare and other Government Departments to encourage people in getting registered for various schemes, adding that lot of efforts still need to be done for ensuring cent percent coverage and local Panchayat representatives can play significant role in spreading awareness about Government welfare initiatives.
Panchayati Raj functionaries have special role to play in planning as well as execution, as they can keep a better check on quality of works being undertaken in their respective areas, he added.
He said women centric schemes can go a long way in ensuring skill development and self sustainability.
Calling upon unemployed youth of the area to take maximum benefit from the Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Policy, Tara Chand said the comprehensive policy is aimed at encouraging youth to start their own ventures by offering them sops. He said thousands of youth are being given voluntary service allowance under the policy.
He said time has come to look beyond the Government sector for jobs and now youth should inculcate spirit of entrepreneurship for helping themselves and contributing in state’s economy by engaging others in their ventures.
He said proposal to engage general line teachers on the pattern of ReTs is under active consideration of the Government and the step would not only generate employment for local educated youth but would also address the education needs of rural and far-off belts which otherwise get left behind due to locational disadvantage.
On the occasion, people from different areas of the block presented their demands which included, black topping of link roads, installation of transformers, power supply, timely and adequate availability of seeds and fertilizers, disbursement of land compensation, up gradation of schools and placement of requisite staff.
Tara Chand gave a patient hearing to the demands and assured that all genuine issues would be addressed on priority. He also issued on spot instructions to officers for time bound completion of ongoing projects.
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