SRINAGAR: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Ramesh Kumar, has directed officials to expedite pending works under flagship rural development schemes across Jammu and Kashmir, stressing financial discipline, timely fund utilisation and accountability for delays.
During a review meeting, Kumar assessed the physical and financial progress of major programmes, including the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM-G), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G), Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Himayat and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
Under VB-GRAM-G, officials informed the meeting that 3.21 lakh people had availed employment, generating 59.19 lakh person-days. Kumar stressed timely processing of wage and material payments, effective monitoring of works and coordination between district and block-level functionaries.
He directed officials to ensure accurate digital planning, familiarise Gram Panchayat functionaries with permissible works and prepare village plans according to local needs, geographical conditions and vulnerabilities. Water conservation, drainage, protection structures and connectivity in disaster-prone areas were identified as priorities.
Reviewing PMAY-G, the meeting was informed that 3,27,210 houses had been completed against 3,34,586 sanctioned houses, taking the completion rate to around 98 per cent. Kumar directed officials to accelerate the remaining work through regular district-level monitoring, beneficiary follow-up and prompt resolution of implementation bottlenecks.
On SBM-G Phase II, he stressed the need to sustain behavioural change and promote public ownership of sanitation and hygiene practices beyond the creation of infrastructure.
The review of JKRLM covered women’s self-help groups, financial inclusion, institution-building, farm and non-farm livelihoods, and the Lakhpati Didi programme. Officials also discussed community-managed training centres and coordination with Mission YUVA to expand livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities for rural households.
Under Himayat, implemented through the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), officials reported that 2,032 candidates had completed training and 1,378 had secured appointments against a training target of 2,248 candidates under the 2025-26 pilot phase. The Ministry of Rural Development has approved a target of 32,480 candidates under the 2025-28 action plan.
Reviewing the watershed programme under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Kumar was informed that 19 projects covering 69,493 hectares had been sanctioned at a total cost of ₹194.58 crore.
Against ₹155.47 crore released as central funds, cumulative expenditure stood at ₹137.65 crore. For 2026-27, ₹32.47 crore had been allocated, of which ₹16.07 crore had been spent.
Kumar directed officers to accelerate pending works and improve implementation where progress remained below expectations. He said the performance of district- and block-level functionaries would be assessed against assigned responsibilities and outcomes, adding that accountability would be fixed for delays and failure to meet prescribed targets.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Rural Development Department, including Secretary Rachna Sharma, Mission Director of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission Shubhra Sharma, Chief Operating Officer Himayat Rifat Kohli and other departmental officers.