An informed society can be a tool for development, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said today and stated that the aim of the 'Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday' campaign was to educate rural population about various development and welfare schemes launched by the Centre.
"An informed society can be a tool for speedy development," Singh said at a function to mark National Panchayati Raj Day in Kathua district.
The Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office said Panchayati Raj institutions were vital for ensuring rural development and all stakeholders should work for capacity development and empowerment of rural masses.
He said several development projects like Keeriyan Gandyal Bridge, Biotechnology Park and Shahpur Kandi irrigation canal have been initiated inKathua for the benefit of the people especially living in Kandi and hilly areasof the district.
The Union Minister said about 1,120 toilets with scientific design were constructed in border areas of Hiranagar at a cost of over Rs four crore which will also provide natural manure and bio gas besides sanitation facility.
Earlier, Singh inaugurated a photo exhibition organised by District Administration in collaboration with Rural Development highlighting various developmental projects and schemes of state and central government.
Decrying the "false and contrived" impression being
created regarding the change of status of WPRs, Jammu and Kashmir Government had on Thursday made it clear that such reports are deliberately being circulated to destabilise the situation and hit the political and economic interests of the people.
"It seems an orchestrated and misleading campaign has been launched to create an impression that the Government is changing the status of the WPR and they are being provided domicile certificates," Minister for Education and state government spokesman Naeem Akhtar has said in a statement on Thursday.
To facilitate them to get jobs in paramilitary forces and other central government establishments, the Government has issued them identity certificates which is in the same format as exists in the voter list for Parliamentary polls, Naeem said.
"Issuance of Identity Certificates does in no way change the status of the West Pakistan Refugees and they continue to be non-state subjects," he said.
Several political organisation including BJP and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party and refugee organisations have hit out at opposition parties and separatists for opposing identity certificates to West Pakistan refugees.
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Meanwhile, Jitendra Singh said thatequitable development of all the regions of the state tops the agenda of the government.
He was speaking during an event organised todistribute LPG connections among the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in Udhampur.
Nearly 500 new LPG connections were distributed to the BPL families.
The Minister also emphasised on the 'Give-it-up' campaign launched by the present government in which many people had voluntarily surrendered their cooking gas subsidies.
He said providing LPG connections to BPL households would ensure universal coverage in the country besides empowering women and protecting their health.
Regarding covering the left-out under PMUY, he said that PMUY Plus will ensure covering of all such people under the scheme.
Elaborating on the Holy Devika Rejuvenation Project, Singh said that the project is not only important from the environment viewpoint but the religious sentiments of the people of Udhampur are also associated it as the river is one of the most pious and is considered as the sister of the holy Ganges.
Addressing a long pending demand regarding establishing of radio station at Udhampur, the Minister said that the project has been approved by the present Government.
He directed the Deputy Commissioner to take necessary steps in this regard.
