Mega Block Divas meetings held across District Ramban; DC, Director HPMD interact with farmers, PRIs at Batote

RAMBAN: To address the public issues at their door steps, the District Administration Ramban has conducted Mega Block Diwas today at all designated locations across the district.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat Islam, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department, Vishesh Mahajan, J&K, president MC, BDC Chairperson and several senior officers, PRIs, attended the Block Divas meeting in Block Batote.

The DC and the Director also listened to the grievances of farmers and passed necessary directions to the concerned officers for resolving their issues on priority basis.

The DC sensitized the people, especially youth about the PMEGP, Tajsawani, PM- SEHAT, e-Shram and other self employment and other beneficiary oriented schemes. He urged the people to avail the benefit of different schemes launched by the UT as well as Central Government. He said that the District Administration has laid special focus on effective implementation of all employment and beneficiary oriented schemes, especially pertaining to youth and farmers.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Ramban and Director, Horticulture (Planning & Marketing), inaugurated a display cum demonstration show of three machines, Apple Washing, Grading cum Shining Machine, Apple Grading and Shining Machine (run on electricity) and a Solar Drier under the on post harvest management programme at Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Batote.

They also handed over six garbage bins provided by the Marketing Administrative Committee, Batote to the Area Marketing Officer, Ramban, Sunil Bakshi for maintaining cleanliness in the Batote Mandi under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director said that due to this mechanical Grading Line System grading in apple and pear will improve which will enhance their value addition of fruit thereby fetching a much higher whole sale rate to farmers.

Responding to the demand highlighted by the people during the Block Diwas meeting, the DC assured that similar machines will be provided to the Horticulture Department to facilitate the farmers. He also assured that a flower mission would be launched across the district to improve income of farmers.

As a maiden step in floriculture cultivation in Ramban district with the guidance of Directorate of Floriculture Research, GOI for farmers’ income generation a guest lecture was also delivered by a renowned floriculturist, Dr Manoj Nazir.