SRINAGAR: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar today chaired a meeting to review the functioning and performance of the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) at the Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Prashant Goyal; Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Director Urban Local Bodies, Jammu, Director Finance HUDD, and other concerned officers both in person and through video conferencing.
During the meeting, the Advisor took detailed progress of the implementation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) scheme and its various components like Self Employment Programme (SEP), Shelter for Urban Homeless, Social Mobilisation and Institutional Development – SHGs and Employment through Skill Training and Placement (ESTP).
Addressing the meeting, Advisor Bhatnagar impressed upon the officers for effective communication and cooperation with all relevant departments and agencies to achieve the goals of SUDA efficiently. He delved into them to engage with different stakeholders to meet the desired objectives of the agency.
While reviewing the progress on the implementation of SEP, Social Mobilisation and Institutional Development – SHGs and ESTP components, the Advisor called upon the officers for adequate funding of beneficiaries so that they can establish their enterprises and become self-sufficient. He asked them for proper handholding of the beneficiaries so that they are well versed in the emerging start-up ecosystem.
He also asked them to collaborate with other departments or institutions for imparting training to beneficiaries so that their skills can be upgraded.
While reviewing the Shelter for Urban Homeless component of the DAY-NULM, Advisor Bhatnagar emphasized upon the officers to utilise the assets created for the shelter of the urban homeless effectively. He enjoined upon them for immediate functioning of all the newly constructed shelter homes.
The Advisor further asked the officers to create awareness among the target group about shelter homes so that they can take advantage of this facility.
The Advisor also called upon the officers to carry out a survey throughout Jammu and Kashmir to identify homeless people and involve departments like the Social Welfare department and others in identifying the homeless people who can utilise these established facilities.
During the meeting, the Advisor was informed that Shelters for Urban Homeless have been constructed in the districts of Jammu, Kupwara, Reasi and Kathua with a capacity of 100 persons each. It was also given out in the meeting that catering services are being provided free of cost to homeless persons staying in these shelter homes.
