Excelsior Correspondent
SHOPIAN, Oct 13: Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary today visited district Shopian under third phase of the Public Outreach Programme in order to assess the ground level development scenario, implementation status of Central Sponsored Schemes and to listen to public issues.
While taking review of the district development profile, the Minister stressed upon officers to provide more employment avenues to youth, give more focus on infrastructure development and promote entrepreneurship ventures so that more employment opportunities are provided to the youth.
Chaudhary emphasized upon the need for taking intensified efforts for achieving best results of development and welfare outcomes for the larger interests of people.
Chaudhary then held a meeting and interacted with DDC, BDC members, MC counsellors and other PRI members and listened to issues and demands put forward for consideration and appropriate action from the visiting dignitary.
DDC members took up the issue of low rates of apples, transportation and marketing problems being faced by the transporters and growers.
Members sought separate Mechanical Division for the district in view of heavy snowfall in the district. They sought Industrial Training Institute in the district, MSP for apple crop, implementation of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), University Campus / Women’s College, Maternity and Child Care Hospital and increasing budget allocation of Municipal Council among other issues of public importance.
On the occasion, the Minister laid e-foundation of three road projects namely Strengthening/Upgradation of Chitragam Heff including Heffkhurry Malderia Road, Strengthening/Upgradation of Amshipora Checki Mirzapur Sedow road and Strengthening/ Upgradation of Pahalipora Naidgund Road, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,155 lakhs.
Later, the MoS visited Fruit Mandi Aglar and met fruit growers, traders and transporters.
President of Association highlighted the economic significance of the Mandi and informed that annual business turnover of the Mandi is around Rs 4,000 crore and about 10,000 persons are directly or indirectly employed with it. He sought intervention of Govt for making efforts for its betterment especially construction of flood protection wall around it.
While addressing the gathering, the Minister highlighted some of the priorities of the Central Government and progress made under various sectors including rail, road and air connectivity and infrastructure development.
He especially mentioned watershed movements in health sector of J&K made by the Central Government including the establishment of 2 AIIMS, 5 GMCs, road connectivity, good governance initiatives, ushering of accountability and responsiveness in J&K.
Earlier, MoS stressed upon officers to disseminate maximum information about Govt. schemes among people so that more and more people are benefited from the Central and UT Govt. schemes.
He also distributed sanction orders and keys of vehicles among beneficiaries of agriculture and employment department under different schemes.
Earlier, Deputy Commis-sioner, Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishya presented overview of the district besides giving status of mega developmental projects under execution in the district including Polytechnic College, JNV Aglar, Indoor Stadium, Shopian – Bijbehara Road, Transit Accommodation for migrant employees, Trenz Sheikhpora Bridge, etc
SSP Shopian, Tanushree, ADDC Shopian, Manzoor Hussain and other sectoral and district officers and officials accompanied him.
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