Farooq Khan visits Ganderbal, assesses construction projects of SWD

Ganderbal, Jul 28: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, Wednesday visited Ganderbal district to take stock of ongoing construction projects being executed by Social Welfare Department (SWD) in the district.
Advisor inspected progress on construction of Old Age Home at Pandach Ganderbal and Rehabilitation home for mentally ill persons near District Hospital. He directed the executing agency to ensure both the projects get completed within the set timeline.
While inspecting the pace of progress on these projects, Advisor held detailed discussion with the engineers of executing agency and suggested many changes. He asked the concerned to ensure that infrastructure setup should be in such a way that it will cater to the needs of old age and mentally ill persons with all modern facilities.
During his visit to old age home at Pandach Ganderbal, Director General, SWD briefed the Advisor about the facilities being created at the old age home. He directed the executing agency to keep provision for lift facility in the building and landscaping and asked the Tehsildar Ganderbal to identify the patch of land adjacent to Old Age Home that can be developed and used for recreation park.
Advisor also visited construction site of Rehabilitation Home for mentally ill persons and took detailed review about the facilities that would be available for the inmates there. He said that each category of mentally unsound people need different infrastructure setup with segregation of male and female groups and gave directions for keeping provision of various facilities to such persons.
Pertinently, Social Welfare Department is constructing Old Age Home at the cost of Rs 484 lakh and Rehabilitation home for mentally ill persons at the cost of Rs 493 lakh through JKPHC with intake capacity of 60-80 persons at each home. Both the projects are likely to be completed by end of current financial year.
Meanwhile, local deputation called on Advisor and apprised him of their issues and concerns. They demanded further up gradation of facilities in the District Hospital.
Advisor assured the deputation that their genuine demands with regard to healthcare facilities and other services would be looked into for an early redressal.
Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna, Director General SWD, Bashir Ahmad Dar, SSP Ganderbal, Suhail Munawar Mir, OSD to Advisor, Mohammad Ashraf Hakak, District Social Welfare Officer Ganderbal and other concerned accompanied the Advisor.