Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, May 28: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today conducted a comprehensive review of the status and progress of various flagship schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, and other RDD initiatives in Reasi district.
During the review meeting, Dr. Shahid emphasized the importance of effective and timely execution of these schemes to ensure the socio-economic upliftment of rural areas.
He stressed the need for convergence between MGNREGA and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), urging officials to improvise and align additional projects with comprehensive watershed management objectives.
Dr. Shahid reviewed the status of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin and directed officials to concentrate on solid waste management, door-to-door waste collection in panchayats, community soakage pits, community compost pits, and individual soakage pits.
Recognizing the crucial role of Block Development Officers (BDOs), Secy RDD urged them to adopt a proactive approach and demonstrate unwavering commitment to finding effective solutions that can address the diverse challenges faced by rural communities.
Highlighting their cost-effectiveness, durability, and rapid deployment capabilities, Dr. Shahid stressed that adopting pre-fab technologies could expedite the implementation of development projects, leading to tangible benefits for rural populations.
He also suggested repurposing non-functional Government buildings into beautiful Anganwadi Centers.
Additionally, he highlighted the potential of eco-tourism in generating income, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating socio-economic development in rural areas.
Dr. Shahid asked officials to distribute Alexa devices in rural schools, underscoring the RDD’s commitment to leveraging technology for educational advancement in rural communities.
He said introducing these devices, the department aims to enhance learning experiences, bridge digital divides, and foster digital literacy among students in rural areas.
A detailed presentation during the meeting highlighted the progress, current status, and future action plans for each scheme.
Dr Shahid’s underscored the RDD’s commitment to holistic rural development, integrating innovative solutions and technological advancements to address the diverse challenges faced by rural communities.
In extensive discussions with District Development Commissioner Reasi, Vishesh Mahajan, Dr. Shahid sought to achieve the targets set for these schemes and address the challenges faced in their implementation.
The meeting was also attended by District Development Commissioner Reasi, Vishesh Mahajan, Director Rural Development, Jammu, Mohammad Mumtaz Ali, Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal, CEO IWMP, Rajnish Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Himayat Rajneesh Gupta, Additional Secretary Rural Development Department, Waseem Raja, Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD)/ACP/PO, IWMP, Reasi among others.
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