JAMMU: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, today paid obeisance at the revered Dev Sathan Balli on the eve of the annual religious congregation and prayed for peace, harmony and prosperity of the people of the region.
Following the religious ceremony, the Minister addressed a huge public gathering at Kharah Balli, where he held detailed interaction with the local residents, religious leaders and representatives of various sections of society. He reiterated that the Omar Abdullah–led government is firmly committed towards ensuring inclusive, equitable and people-centric development, particularly in border and rural areas that have remained vulnerable and underserved for decades.
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Chanapora, Mushtaq Guru besides senior civil and police officers during the visit.
The Minister also conducted an on-the-spot inspection of the playfield at Balli, which is currently under construction.
Stressing the importance of sports for youth empowerment and positive engagement, he directed the concerned departments to expedite the work and ensure that the facility is completed at the earliest with proper quality standards.
Giving a major boost to development in the area, the Minister announced ₹30 lakh from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for undertaking various development works in Block Kharah Balli. These works will include improvement of local infrastructure, strengthening of civic amenities and creation of community-friendly facilities to enhance the quality of life of the people.
Highlighting the strategic importance of Chhamb, Satish Sharma said the area has witnessed several wars in the past and continues to face challenges due to cross-border shelling and firing”. He acknowledged the resilience and sacrifices of the people living in the border belt and assured them that the government is fully sensitive to their concerns and is working towards improving the infrastructure, safety measures, connectivity and basic services in such vulnerable areas.
The Minister underlined that the present government is guided by the politics of development, which, he said, will rise above all other political ideologies. “Sustainable development, peace and prosperity of the people will always remain our foremost priority. Through focused governance and transparent implementation of schemes, we aim to bring lasting change to every region, especially border and rural belts,” he said.
Satish Sharma also appreciated the active participation of the local people in the religious congregation and public interaction programme. He assured them that their genuine grievances and developmental aspirations would be addressed on priority.
