Increased allocations for rural Infra, health reduced gap between urban, rural areas: Sinha

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that increased allocations for rural infrastructure and rural health have reduced the inequalities and gap between urban and rural areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister, accelerated development and transformation is taking place across the Union Territory, the Lieutenant Governor said while presiding over the UT-level event in connection with Garib Kalyan Sammelan, held here at SKICC.

Set new benchmarks to curb corrupt practices: LG tells ACB, GAD
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday urged the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and General Administration Department (GAD) to adopt anti-corruption measures and preventive actions using the latest technologies, and work in collaboration to set new benchmarks in curbing corrupt practices.
Inaugurating the additional office block of Anti Corruption Bureau Headquarters at Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said the vigilance clearance has become online in which GAD, ACB has issued more than 30,000 vigilance clearances since June, 2021. Sinha observed that the Anti Corruption Bureau is working tirelessly to prevent and investigate corruption-related matters and ensure transparency in the governance system, besides taking various measures to deal effectively with the menace of corruption, the Lt Governor observed.
He said the grievance redressal and preventive mechanism have added a new dimension to the vigilance work to curb malpractices, adding that the initiatives like Satark Nagrik application and Departmental Vigilance Officers portal are playing a key role in the effective and right dissemination of information to all stakeholders, and have led to better vigilance work.
Congratulating the entire team of Anti Corruption Bureau on the occasion, the Lt Governor said that the new building would not only add infrastructural space for the working of ACB but also displays the resolve of the UT government for zero tolerance towards corruption.
Speaking on the occasion, Dilbag Singh, DGP J&K complimented the Engineers of the Police Construction Division (PCD) for completing the work in record time.
Manoj Kumar Diwedi, Principal Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, in his address, said that the new building is symbolic of the efforts of strengthening the Anti Corruption Bureau in terms of manpower, infrastructure and IT equipment.
Anand Jain, Director, Anti Corruption Bureau gave a briefing about the functioning of the ACB and features of the new building.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 9.04 crores, the work on the building was completed in a short span of 23 months. The infrastructure comprises of 39 rooms including Director’s Chamber in addition to Conferencing Hall with AV facilities, waiting Lounge, VIP Lounge, Dinning Hall, Help Desk, Canteen, two meeting halls and a common kitchen.

Pertinently, ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’ marks the completion of eight years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the office. During this one of the largest ever nationwide interactions, Prime Minister interacted with the beneficiaries of wide-ranging government run schemes and programmes, and received first-hand feedback regarding the impact of these schemes on the lives of beneficiaries.
Prime Minister also released the 11th installment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. An amount of around Rs 21,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families was