DDC Rajouri listens to public grievances

Stresses on greater public participation in Plan formulation

RAJOURI, SEPTEMBER 21: District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, today stressed upon the district and sectoral officers to involve general public while formulating annual developmental plans of the respective departments to nip the source of public grievances at the very onset.

He was speaking at two consecutive public meetings held here at Gambhir Brahmana and Pallulian, convened to have a firsthand appraisal of the development scenario in these border areas and hold direct interactions with the local residents about the problems they face in day to day life

The People gathered at the public meetings appreciated the district administration for its massive outreach programme and apprised the DDC about various serious development related issues in these areas.

They said that work on many ongoing schemes under BADP, State Sector and District Sector is interrupted due to lack of funds and need special attention of district administration.

Construction/maintenance work on important projects like Ermakhanetar Bridge, Ermakhanetar-Patrara Kul, Dassal-Pallulian road and Water Supply Schemes Panjgaraiyein and Pallulian should be started at earliest as these are connected with basic amenities of life”, the public said. They also demanded improvement in road connectivity between Rajhdani-Panjgaraiyein, Rajdhani-Paryali, Mankote-Khankhari, Main road-Katarmal, Peer Kanjo-Taryali, Dassal-Namblan and Dassal-Kariyan. 

An innovative suggestion for developing Border Road Circuit by connecting Rajouri-Poonch highway and BG-Kallar road at various points was also given by the participants.  They said that this will enable easy movement of people and livestock, especially during ceasefire violations.

They also stressed on up-grading Middle School(MS) Mubarakpura to high school(HS), HS of  Thandikassi and Ghambir Brahmana to higher secondary level besides rationalization of teaching staff in other schools.

The locals raised many other demands like establishment of seed store, Bank Branch, Dak Bungalow at Ghambir Brahmna, electric poles and wires in un-electrified hamlets of these border villages and development of tourism infrastructure.

Dr. Shahid stressed on participatory development and asked the departments to take locals into confidence while formulating annual plans. He said this would facilitate need based development and nip the source of public grievances at the very onset.

The executive engineers of PWD, PMGSY and PHE were strictly directed to complete the work on the ongoing projects within stipulated time to avoid cost overrun. They were also asked to prepare the estimates for new projects to be taken up in these areas.

To address the issue of left out eligible families, concerned tehsildar and BDO were directed to conduct Gram Sabha and finalize the BPL list in consultation with the local residents.

They were further asked to consider genuine demands of public for bifurcation of panchayats and establishment of new polling stations.

For widow/old age pension scheme, the DDC asked the public to scrutinize and send genuine cases of their areas. He said the cases would be disposed of on priority. The Chief Education Officer was asked to prepare proposal for up-grading of schools and also ensure rationalization of staff in these schools.

Executive Engineers of various engineering departments, CEO RDA, ACD, AD FCS&CAs, CEO, Chief Horticulture Officer, Chief Agriculture Officer and other concerned district and sectoral officers participated in the public meetings and recorded the issues raised by locals.