STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Linking the progress of Jammu and Kashmir to the growth of its rural areas, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said there would be better prospects of economic growth if people at panchayat-level are actively involved in development schemes.
“There is a need for empowerment of people at the grass-roots level. The prime objective of all rural development programmes must be to improve the quality of life in the villages where a major chunk of the state’s population resides,” Mehbooba said chairing a high level review meeting of Rural Development Department (RDD) here.
The Chief Minister said the idea of convergence will yield better results if more departments are involved in asset creation in rural areas, thereby resulting in economic betterment of people as well as social transformation.
There has to be efficiency and greater transparency in utilisation of funds to eliminate poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in our rural belts, she said.
Appreciating the RDD for its initiative under convergence model, she said the results would be more encouraging if it could be replicated in other departments.
RDD needs to widen the scope of convergence by tying up with Tourism, Irrigation and Flood Control, Housing and Urban Development Department as well as other departments to create sustainable infrastructure in our villages, she said.
The Chief Minister said, “Our villages need to grow in tandem with rapidly-progressing cities and towns and only then the standard of life will improve and inclusive growth will happen in rural areas of the state.”
Highlighting the need to make the functioning of social security programme MNREGA more effective, Mehbooba suggested linking its labour-component to Irrigation and Flood Control and Public health Engineering departments.
To bring in more transparency in disbursement of wages, she also issued instructions for making Aadhar-based enrolment mandatory for all MNREGA workers.
The Chief Minister said revival and conservation of small water-bodies and creation of green spaces by planting trees where rural infrastructure is coming up should also be explored under MNREGA.
Emphasising upon housing for rural poor as a priority area, Mehbooba issued directions for prominently displaying names of all Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) beneficiaries at all Panchayat Ghars to ensure transparency.
“Now that the earlier IAY scheme has been revamped, the RDD should ensure the intended beneficiary gets a good-quality house to live in.
“It is vital that the names of beneficiaries are brought into public domain so as to remove doubts that may emerge in the process of selection,” she said.
While reviewing the performance under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – UMEED, a poverty alleviation and women empowerment programme, Mehbooba directed RDD to bring the six uncovered districts under the ambit of the scheme this year.
She said keeping in view the success of women in Self Help Groups, empowering women by forming cooperative linkages will transform the rural landscape in the state.
“RDD can start by incentivising production of jute bags, cut flowers and milk cooperatives under SHGs for which the state government can provide marketing support by roping in government departments as well as private firms,” she said.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the performance of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
So far, the Union Ministry has sanctioned 159 projects at a cost of Rs 970.72 crore, out of which Detailed Project Reports have been prepared for 82 projects.
