Union Home Secretary praises CM Omar’s outreach for post-snowfall relief efforts
Srinagar, Dec 31: Expressing happiness over the meeting of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) post snowfall in Kashmir, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan reviewed Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) at the last leg of his two-day visit to Kashmir.
“The Union Home Secretary expressed happiness over the meeting of CM Sahab with MLAs cutting across party lines after snowfall hit the Valley,” a senior administrative officer, who attended the meeting called by Govind Mohan to review CSS told Greater Kashmir. “He appreciated the MLAs of ruling NC, PDP, and BJP for speaking about the problems in their respective areas.”
According to the officer, the Union Home Secretary expected such meetings off and on so that the problems of the people are mitigated.
The meeting convened by Govind Mohan at SKICC on Tuesday morning was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, J&K Home Secretary, some Commissioner Secretaries, and some other officers.
A day after heavy snowfall, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the Kashmir division via video conferencing.
Held at the Raabita Public Outreach Office, the meeting focused on reviewing restoration efforts and essential services, including snow clearance, power and water supply, and health facilities.
MLAs across party lines had commended the swift response of the Chief Minister-led administration, lauding its commitment to addressing public grievances during weather adversities.
The CM had sought feedback from MLAs and held one-on-one discussions with DCs to assess the situation in snow-affected districts.
He had directed officials to identify service delivery gaps and take immediate corrective measures to alleviate hardships faced by residents.
CM Omar had stressed prioritising snow clearance on link roads, improving water supply through the deployment of tankers, and preventing water-logging in low-lying areas.
He also emphasised the need for smooth traffic movement on the National Highway, urging better coordination between the National Highways Authority of India, Traffic Police, and district administrations.
The CM had called for enhanced preparedness for the forecasted snowfall, urging continuous monitoring and synergy among departments to avoid inconvenience to the people.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri also participated virtually in the meeting.
Govind Mohan took a detailed review of centrally-sponsored schemes that have given a significant boost in development and welfare activities that have been effectively implemented across J&K.
These schemes have been pivotal in addressing key challenges in sectors like health, education, rural development, and infrastructure, ensuring inclusive growth and socio-economic upliftment of the region.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo briefed the meeting about the different centrally-sponsored schemes being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and their progress.
The schemes that were reviewed included PMAY – Affordable Housing for All - under which thousands of families across J&K have been provided affordable housing.
The scheme aims to achieve the government’s vision of ‘Housing for All’ by 2024.
In the rural areas of J&K, PMAY (Gramin) has seen remarkable success, with over 65,000 houses completed in the last three years, benefiting economically weaker sections and marginalised communities.
Another scheme reviewed was MGNREGA – Boosting Rural Employment - which has been instrumental in generating employment opportunities in rural areas of J&K.
Jal Jeevan Mission – Ensuring Clean Drinking Water - was also reviewed by Govind Mohan as the mission has made significant strides in providing tap water connections to rural households in J&K.
According to official data, over 70 percent of rural households now have access to functional tap water connections, a substantial increase from just 20 percent in 2019.
The scheme has not only improved public health but also reduced the drudgery of women who previously had to fetch water from distant sources.
Ayushman Bharat – Healthcare for All - came also for discussion.
The scheme provides health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.
In J&K, over 25 lakh Golden Cards have been issued, enabling residents to access cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals across the country.
This has brought immense relief to economically weaker families grappling with high medical expenses.
Other schemes reviewed included PMGSY – Connecting Remote Areas, Mission Youth - Empowering the Younger Generation, Ujjwala Yojana, which provides free LPG connections to women from below-poverty-line households, and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).
While these schemes have brought visible improvements in the quality of life, challenges like ensuring last-mile delivery, addressing regional disparities, and creating awareness about these initiatives were stressed during the meeting.
The senior government official assured the Union Home Secretary that efforts were being intensified to monitor their implementation and involve local stakeholders to overcome any hurdles.
