Jammu: Secretary Tribal Affairs Department and Prabhari Officer for Border Area Development Programme (BADP), Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, reviewed the progress on various projects under implementation and feedback on BADP in district Poonch.
Proposals related to various projects were discussed for developmental initiatives in border villages.
Chairperson, District Development Council Poonch, Tazeem Akhter, Vice-Chairman Mohammad Ishfaq, DDC members, BDC Chairpersons and officers attended the meeting wherein detailed deliberations were held on various sectoral works and feedback for further interventions required for strengthening infrastructure and socio-economic development in border villages.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Inder Jeet gave a detailed presentation about work under BADP covering 8 blocks and 112 habitations including nearly 300 works initiated under the scheme. He also gave an overview of issues faced in various projects and requirement of funds for completion of different schemes.
Dr Shahid Choudhary informed that Government is keen to develop infrastructure on modern lines in border areas with special focus on connectivity, livelihood, education, essential services and over-all socio-economic development. Highlighting the recent steps taken by the Government for initiating concerted development he sought feedback from elected members and local administration for steps required to ensure overall development in border villages. He highlighted that Govt is committed for focused development of border area and accordingly steps are being taken.
Chairperson DDC Poonch, Tazeem Akhter, dwelled in plan formulation for 2021-22 and inclusion of provision for Model Villages under BADP. Vice-Chairman, Mohd Ishfaq projected the need for border tourism and inclusion of new projects.
DDC Member Mankote, Imran Zafar focused on need for sports infrastructure and youth engagement initiatives, construction of key roads in Balnoi. BDC Chairperson Shamin Ganai demanded inclusion of missing villages, release of funds for bunkers. BDC Chairperson Balakote projected the issue related to ambulance and health infrastructure.
BDC Chairperson Poonch, Shamim Kohli and BDC Chaiman Amanullah Choudhary highlighted the need for plan revision and focus on road connectivity projects. DDC Member Choudhary Ghani projected tribal village development under BADP, mechanism to avoid overlapping of projects under various schemes. BDC Chairman, Nangali Saheb, Abdul Majeed highlighted the need to support the mine-blast affected families and livelihood schemes required to be extended to border areas.
DDC Member Reyaz Bashir Naz called for greater participation in planning process for BADP, sanction of specific road projects in border villages, special grant for infrastructure development projects in border villages and youth engagement activities.
