Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today chaired the review meeting of district Srinagar and took a comprehensive review of ongoing development projects and other welfare initiatives being undertaken across the district.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Ali Mohammad Sagar; Mubarakh Gul; Shamim Firdous; Salman Ali Sagar; Tanvir Sadiq; Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo and Sheikh Ahsan Pardesi; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo; Commissioner SMC, Director SKIMS; HoDs and Directors of various line departments and other senior and district officers of district administration Srinagar.
During the meeting, the Minister took comprehensive assessment of performance of each department, besides progress on implementation of flagship schemes like Mission Yuva, HADP, PM Surya Ghar, National TB Elimination Programme and others. She also took evaluation of physical and financial progress of various projects being executed under district CAPEX, MPLAD’s, CDF, SASCI, AMRUT 2.0, and other schemes.
While reviewing status of healthcare infrastructure, rural development, road connectivity, education, and drinking water facilities across the district, the Minister directed the officers to ensure timely completion of projects and called for a result-oriented approach to address public grievances.
She reiterated the Government’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure and improving emergency care facilities. She directed the district administration to devise a plan for upgradation of roads leading to all major hospitals of Srinagar city like SKIMS, SMHS, Bone & Joint, Lal Ded and others, besides a comprehensive plan should also be framed in consultation with traffic police for decongestion of roads approaching to these vital healthcare institutions.
The Health Minister called upon all the officers to consult local MLAs before any new initiative or project is being undertaken in their respective constituencies. She underlined that the public representatives are the bedrock of any developed society and therefore it should ensured that the local legislators are taken into confidence before the commencement of any fresh initiative.
While reviewing progress of other flagship schemes, particularly the Mission YUVA, Minister Sakeena emphasized upon the officers that all the pending cases under any scheme should be disposed off timely. She stressed upon the officers that the applicants having any deficiencies should be informed timely so that they can rectify the same and take due benefits from these schemes.
The Minister further called upon the district administration to organise awareness camps regarding various schemes of the government in collaboration with local MLAs, so that maximum people are made aware about these schemes.
While discussing measures to enhance urban services in Srinagar, including sanitation, drainage management and sustainable urban planning, the Minister instructed officers to adopt people-friendly governance models and maintain close contact with citizens to identify pressing developmental gaps.
“Srinagar is the heart of J&K and its development reflects the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir”, Minister Sakeena stated. She called upon all the officers to work with dedication so that the Srinagar city can emerge as the cleanest and brightest city of country.
She further highlighted that the development of Srinagar city adds to the image of entire J&K across the country.
While reviewing the performance of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the Minister directed the SMC Commissioner to complete projects timely and ensure new projects are taken up only after the ongoing ones are completed.
The Health Minister, during the meeting, also underscored the importance of single line administration, highlighting that this concept was introduced by Sher-e-Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah to address the issues of general public without any delay.
She emphasized that accountability and coordination among departments must remain the bedrock of governance, adding that the people need to facilitated at each level.
Calling for timely completion of all ongoing projects, the Minister underlined that duplication of work and fragmented decision-making not only delays development but also weakens public trust. She called upon all the officers to maintain quality of works in all ongoing projects. “Every rupee spent from the exchequer must translate into visible progress on the ground which will improve the quality of life of common people”, Minister Sakeena said.
The Minister further highlighted that the present Omar Abdullah led Government has been formed by the trust and vote of common masses and we remain committed for providing all necessary support to this historic district’s overall development.
During the meeting, Chief Planning Officer, Srinagar gave a detailed presentation on various developmental aspects of the Srinagar district.