Poonch: Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary who is also incharge of district Poonch for developmental purposes reviewed the progress under district CapEx, BADP, Tribal welfare and youth engagement initiatives in the district.
A number of new projects were also agreed for larger public benefit.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Inder Jeet; Secretary, Advisory Board, Mukhtar Ahmed; Director Planning Shama un Ahmed; SSP Vinod Kumar; ADDC, Abdul Sattar; ADC, Dr Basharat; district and sectoral officers were present.
A detailed presentation was made by the Deputy Commissioner about progress on various projects and schemes including district CapEx, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Tribal Plan, Mission Youth and BADP.
Dr Shahid asked the departments for immediate steps to ensure timely completion of projects and works under CapEx and CSS. He took serious note of slow pace of tendering in rural development works and delay in repair of machines and transformers for which departments were asked to fix responsibility.
It was impressed upon all district officers for expediting commencement of tendered works and take action against defaulters. Detailed review of Tribal Plan and Border Area Development Programme was also conducted. Departments were asked to ensure outcome based utilisation of funds within stipulated time.
Tribal Affairs Department has sanctioned projects and schemes worth Rs 38.00 Cr for District Poonch during current fiscal which includes establishment of 12 Smart Schools, hostel and administrative block at EMRS Mendhar, Transformer bank at Poonch, Tribal Museum & Research Centre, development on public infrastructure in 18 villages, two milk villages, tribal transit accommodation at Behramgala, health infrastructure, mobile dispensaries, veterinary dispensaries, installation of hand pumps, mechanical workshop, community halls, library, tourism infrastructure, two milk villages, sheep farms and dairy farms.
Discussion was also held regarding youth engagement programme and it was agreed to provide funding to the tune of Rs 5.00 Cr including development of counselling centres, library, sports equipment and tournaments, grant-in-aid of 60 lakh to youth clubs, funding for self-employment schemes including Mumkin, Tejaswini and initiative for victims of border shelling and insurgency. DLTF has received 399 applications under Tejaswini and 134 under Mumkin which will be funded by Mission Youth.
The secretary also approved Rs 75.00 Lakh for hostel furniture meanwhile Rs 4.30 Cr has been provided by the department for scholarship to tribal students and Rs 2.20 Cr for facilities in 11 selected schools of various zones in Poonch. Establishment of Eklavya Model Residential School at Poonch at a cost of Rs 24.00 Cr has been proposed by tribal affairs department for which DC Poonch was asked to propose land and DPR to be formulated by PWD. The EMRS will be residential school for 600 students with all modern facilities.
Further, development of 56 villages in the district under the Integrated Village Development Scheme of tribal department was also discussed for which departments were asked to make efficient plans with active involvement of Gram Panchayats.
