Srinagar: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a meeting to review the functioning of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj ((RD&PR) department of Kashmir division at Civil Secretariat here.

During the meeting, execution of MGNREGA works,  implementation of ongoing works under Centrally sponsored schemes, PMAY, Rural Sanitation and status of construction and renovation of Panchayat Ghars and buildings for DDCs and BDCs were discussed in detail.

The Advisor also reviewed the implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) under the chapter of UMEED in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Mission Director NRLM Jammu and Kashmir, Director Rural Development Department Kashmir, Director Panchayati Raj J&K, Director Rural Sanitation J&K, CEO Himayat, SE Rural Development Department Kashmir, Assistant Commissioners Development of Kashmir Division, Executive Engineers of Kashmir division, District Panchayat Officers of Kashmir division and BDOs of Kashmir division.

Advisor while taking first-hand feedback from the respective Directors about the implementation of schemes, directed the officers to have strict adherence to rules besides verification of the works done through engineering staff  on regular basis. He further stressed on the need to have cross verifications done by the officers and solicit feedback from PRIs and locals so that there is no compromise on the quality and transparency.

Highlighting the importance of strict adherence to timelines, Advisor directed the officers for timely disbursal of wages under MGNREGA. He said that the wage employment has assumed great significance in these times of COVID crisis. He insisted on the maintenance of proper record about the wage distribution so that a fair idea about the number of families that are being benefitted emerges.

Emphasizing on the regular field visits by the officers in their respective blocks, he directed the officers to step up monitoring so that the impact of wage employment on ground is evident and its benefits are truly replicated on ground.

He also directed the concerned SEs to maintain record of their field visits and report in this regard should be shared with the higher authorities on regular basis for follow up action. He said that this will not only give an insight into the ongoing works but will also make the officers accountable at all levels.

Detailed presentations were given by the Director Rural Development, Kashmir, Director NRLM, J&K and Director Rural Sanitation with respect to their  respective departments. The Advisor was given an overview about the district and Panchayat wise  progress achieved so far regarding MGNREGA, Pardhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY),  Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and 14th Finance Commission in respect of Kashmir division.

A detailed status was also given about the construction of new Panchayat Ghars and renovation of Panchayat Ghars under RGSA in Kashmir besides the implementation of NRLM and SBM.

Regarding the repairs and renovation of Panchayat Ghars under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), it was given out in the meeting that out of the approved 50 Panchayat Ghars for repairs and renovation during 2018-19, 41 have been completed while another 80 Panchayat Ghars are to be renovated during 2020-21. It was also given out that 75 new panchayat bhawans are to be constructed during 2020-21.

The Advisor directed the officers to complete all the Panchayat works on war footing basis as these buildings have assumed a great significance in view of the successful conduct of Panchayat elections.

He also enquired about the number of Sarpanches and Panches that have been trained through various programmes and exposure visits. He added that the PRIs need to be given an exposure to the best practices which are to be emulated in their respective areas.

While reiterating the role of Rural Development department in the crises of COVID, he laid emphasis on the decision taken by the Lieutenant Governor regarding the establishment of 5-Bedded hospitals at each Panchayat level. The Advisor directed the Director RDD to identify the buildings and locations in consultation with medical department and by involving PRIs immediately and forward the information to the concerned quarters by tomorrow.

The Director assured the Advisor that the information is being compiled and the same shall be forwarded to the concerned quarters by tomorrow.

Regarding the functioning of NRLM in Jammu and Kashmir he was informed that  46198 SHGS have been formed under NRLM (Umeed). It was given out in the meeting that 400764 rural women have been mobilized into SHGS. It was also given out that 4164 village organisations have been promoted and 441 cluster level federations have also been promoted.

The Advisor directed that Rural Haats should be given priority and should be included in the works programme. He said that Self Help Groups from every district should be provided platform for showcasing their products in these Rural Haats.

The Advisor added that these Rural Haats provide a platform to Rural women registered with SLRM to earn their livelihood.

Jammu: J&K High Court has asked the government to file a “comprehensive report” as regards steps so far taken by it on the covid-19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Advocate General may …file a comprehensive report as to the action/steps so far taken by the Government in relation to the pandemic,” said a division of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, according to GNS.

The court also asked several lawyers to project grievances and suggestions through Amicus Curiae to the Advocate General “who will respond to each and every grievance and suggestion within two weeks and if necessary may take up those matters with the State Government and try to resolve them as early as possible.”

“The Advocate General is further directed to respond to the various applications which are pending in this petition and on which response was earlier directed to be submitted.”

On previous date of hearing, the court had asked the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education to file an affidavit, giving complete details of the number of government and private hospitals available in J&K for treatment of covid patients, number of beds available, District wise/City wise quantity of Remdesivir allotted and exact quantity of the drug received and used with the corresponding figures of the requirement.

It had also directed the government to nominate the Nodal officers and publicise their full details with contact number so that the patients or their relatives   may approach them with proper medical prescription for the supply of oxygen. (GNS)

JAMMU: Dr Shabnam Rizvi, a mental health professional from Government Psychiatry Hospital Jammu, has thanked the office of Lieutenant Governor for reaching out to her and other health professionals for seeking their suggestions and appreciating them during ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ radio programme.

Last week, Lieutenant Governor,  Manoj Sinha in his monthly Radio talk dedicated the programme to corona warriors  particularly those who are at forefront during COVID-19 pandemic in the Union Territory.

Dr. Rizvi like other medical professionals was  appreciated for her services during the ongoing pandemic.

“The approach adopted  shows the dedication and genuine approach of the Lieutenant Governor in resolution of the public issues”, Rizvi remarked.

Dr Rizvi said that at present large number of people are coming forward for getting consultation on issues like anxiety, panic attacks and depression than during the first wave of Covid-19.

Continuing, Dr Shabnam said, ‘It could be that we may observe a sudden jump in mental health cases in the months to come while such people with potential mental health cases are having a hard time coping with the reality at present’.

“Earlier, during the first wave, mental health counselling facility was available only in Jammu. Now, such facility is available in all the districts and a mental health professional has been deputed for telecounselling”  she informed.

She added that usually we are getting cases of hyperventilation in which a patient feels heart rate speeding up, feel weak and lightheaded, and feel like they aren’t able to take a deep enough breath.

She thanked the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for giving ‘equal importance to physical as well as mental health’ during the Covid pandemic. She said that with the launch of teleconsultation facility for mental health, people are able to come out of the feeling of helplessness and the anxiety which is the result of this pandemic.

“Our job does not end with treating only the patients approaching us. Some times we have to counsel even their family members which really helps in the end. I have seen people getting better with help and returning back to their lives with renewed enthusiasm”, Dr Rizvi said.

She suggested that meditation should be done to relieve stress and anxiety. Covid patients and even their family members should do regular exercise, read books, listen to music and celebrate little joys of life to come out of the agonising days, she said.

I believe that if you’re mentally sound and have a positive outlook, you can achieve a healthy body with much ease, she said.

Those seeking mental health consultation could call on mobile numbers- 9419110668 and 7889905359.

Other Covid-related queries and doubts can be cleared on the helpline number 0191 2571616. Public can also call Divisional Control Room at 0191-2520982, 2549676, 2674444, 2674115, 2674908. Moreover, J&K Government has started a live phone-in health programme on Gulistan channel which is aired twice daily- from 8:30 am to 9 am and 8:30 pm to 9 pm.