“Atmosphere of Change is visible in J&K, Youth to be the drivers of Progress”, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha

Anantnag: While inaugurating a Women’s cricket event at Degree College Khanabal, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha said that the atmosphere of change is visible in J&K and everyone should be the part of new progressive Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the administration is committed to providing People-Centric Good Governance to the residents of the Union Territory.
The Lt Governor was also accompanied by International cricketers Suresh Raina and Parvaiz Rasool who interacted with the youth and to raise the spirits they participated in the event and played a few shots. Pertinently, Suresh Raina has recently agreed to set up 10 Cricket schools across J&K to train the aspiring cricketers, particularly the youngsters from remote areas of the UT.
Emphasizing the role of positive engagement of Youth, he said the government is keen on augmenting the sports infrastructure in J&K. He appealed the youth to embrace the path of development and be the drivers of a developed and prosperous J&K.
Later, addressing the audience, the Lt Governor expressed delight and said that the government is giving impetus to sports and launching initiatives in education and skill development sectors to help the youth channelize their energies in constructive activities and development of the region. He also announced that every district of the UT is going to have its own sports stadium. Even panchayats have been mandated to provide sports kits to their youth as per local requirements.
He added that the government is focussing on education, industry, tourism, and sports besides enhancing social infrastructure. To bring about groundbreaking changes in the UT, the Lt Governor said that the government is going to announce New Industrial Policy soon, under which an entirely new regime of positivity and development will prevail.
The Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also visited the historic holy Mattan Temple & Gurudwara where he paid obeisance and prayed for peace, progress, and prosperity in the Union Territory. There, he also met a few delegations and listened to their issues and grievances.
While chairing the meeting of officers, the Lt Governor took a review of the overall developmental scenario and public welfare activities in the district. He also e-inaugurated and laid foundation stones of developmental projects worth Rs.92.23 Cr.
Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, briefed the Lt Governor about the governance and public delivery system, besides the status of ongoing developmental projects, implementation of welfare schemes, the scenario of health, education & agriculture. He highlighted the targets achieved in the social sector like health, social welfare, education besides significant achievements like MGNERGA, Ayushmaan Bharat, NSAP, ISSS, PMKISAN & other schemes. He apprised the Lt Governor regarding the tourism potential of the district besides its scope in generating employment and revenue. He also briefed about the completion of projects among the languishing projects besides setting timelines for the incomplete ones. He also briefed about the initiatives taken by the District Administration for the successful implementation of Jan Abhiyan proceeding B2V3.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor maintained that the decision of identification of new projects at the panchayat level should lie solely with the PRIs and the local population and that the officers should only act as facilitators in the execution of those projects. A portion of funds under MGNREGA, 14-FC, and a special package of Rs 10 lakh under B2V be used for sanitation works in every panchayat, maintained the Lt Governor.
On the upcoming Back to Village-3 programme, the Lt Governor exhorted the officers to ensure completion of at least two important works of public importance in every panchayat across the district. Status of ongoing Jan Abhiyaan, Awami Muhim, and preparations for the upcoming Back to Village-3 programme was also sought by the Lt Governor. He urged upon the officers to stay connected with people besides remaining accessible and responsive. He also directed concerned officers to set timelines for the completion of incomplete and languishing projects.
He directed that the local issues like macadamization of roads, provision of drinking water, B2V works should be prioritized and active participation of the public in Block Level Jan Abhiyan programmes Pre- B2V3 programme. He also directed the concerned officers to get all the panchayats connected through all-weather roads and involve people in the plan formation of rural development works.
The Lt Governor also met and interacted with delegations including Presidents of Urban Local Bodies (MCs), BDC Chairpersons, Deputation of Panchs, Sarpanchs, Representatives of various Political parties who projected their issues and demands like up-gradation of civic amenities, Health, Education, Road connectivity, drinking water, power supply, and adequate staff in schools and hospitals in their respective areas.
A Delegation of BDC’s raised the issue of strengthening of Panchayats, Security Concerns, residential accommodation, provision of vehicles for mobility, besides enhancement of the Block Development Fund they also demanded enhancement of honorarium.
Whereas the representatives of various political parties including former MLA, Sh Rafi Ahmed Mir demanded augmentation of the road network, demolition of illegal constructions, and retrieval of encroachments on priority.
The Lt Governor gave a patient hearing to all the delegations and assured that the government is serious about resolving all the issues in a time-bound manner. He said that strengthening of local bodies is a priority of the government besides effective measures are being taken to review the security and accommodation issues.
The projects e-inaugurated by the Lt Governor included the 4×33 Mtr Plate Pirder Bridge in Larkipora under CRF (Rs 12.50 crore); 1 lakh gallons Slow Sand Filtration Plant & 0.50 lakh gallons Service Reservoir WSS at Guridraman under NABARD (Rs 26.2 crore) and WSS Chirhama Bongam under Languishing Projects (Rs 2.77 crore).
The projects for which the Lt Governor laid e-foundation stone include Degree College Mattan (Rs 34 crore); Composite Old Age Home at Akura Nanil (Rs 7.80 crore); Orphanage at Akura Nanil (Rs 7.80 crore); New Type Primary Health Centre at Aroo, Pahalgam (Rs 1.88 crore) and Transit Accommodation at Marhama-Sangam (Rs 23 crore).
The Lt Governor was accompanied by Advisor to the Lt Governor Sh Farooq Ahmad Khan; Principal Secretary, Home Department, Sh Shaleen Kabra; Commissioner/Secretary Youth Services & Sports, Sh Sarmad Hafeez; Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism, Sh Zubair Ahmad; IG Kashmir, Sh Vijay Kumar; DIG, South Sh Atul Goel; Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Sh KK Sidha; SSP, Anantnag, Sh Sandeep Choudhary; various heads of departments among others.