POONCH, MAY 17: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today interacted with scores of delegations from different areas of Mendhar to hear their grievances, demands and developmental concerns.
The locals raised a wide range of issues including settlement of Forest Rights Act claims, deployment of mobile teachers in local schools, macadamisation of roads and installation of street lights in the area. The residents urged the Minister to expedite resolution of long-pending Forest Rights Act cases and ensure that tribal and forest-dwelling communities receive their entitled rights without further delay. They also demanded deployment of mobile teachers to address the shortage of teaching staff and called for improvement in road infrastructure and street lighting across the area.
The Minister assured the residents that their demands would be taken up with the concerned departments on priority. He directed the officers to ensure immediate redressal of grievances, with a time-bound follow-up mechanism in place so that no concern raised goes unaddressed.
The Minister also reviewed the progress on ongoing development works in Mendhar and adjoining areas, taking stock of the pace and quality of execution across various departments. He directed the concerned officers to ensure that all ongoing works are completed within stipulated timelines and that there is absolutely no compromise on quality at any stage of execution. He stressed that public money must translate into durable, tangible outcomes for the people.
Rana also reviewed the functioning of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs), which have been designed to deliver comprehensive diagnostic and primary healthcare services directly to the doorsteps of tribal communities and residents of remote areas with limited access to conventional healthcare infrastructure. He stressed that tribal communities and nomadic populations living in far-flung areas should be provided all essential medical facilities and quality healthcare services at their doorsteps without any inconvenience.
He added that the MMU initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive healthcare and its focused approach towards strengthening the healthcare services in geographically challenging and socio-economically disadvantaged regions.
Interacting with the locals, the Minister reaffirmed that the government is focused on strengthening the public service delivery and ensuring that the benefits of welfare and developmental schemes reach every deserving household across Jammu and Kashmir.
“The resolve of present administration is to ensure that development reaches every household, no matter how remote. Our focus is on improving the everyday lives of people by ensuring reliable drinking water, better irrigation facilities, enhanced connectivity and all other essential services required for holistic development of far-flung areas,” the Minister said.
Senior officers of the concerned departments, local public representatives and a large number of residents from Mendhar and adjoining areas attended the programme.