J&K set to achieve ODF+ status by Aug 15: Chief Secretary

Srinagar, Aug 4: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Friday impressed upon the officers of the Rural Development Department (RDD) to work in coordination with each other to realize the set targets of providing ‘Housing to All’ and prevalence of ‘Zero Poverty’ in J&K by the year 2024.
Dr Mehta was speaking in a meeting called to review the overall functioning of the RDD. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, RDD; Director Panchayat; Director Rural Development Kashmir/Jammu; Director Rural Sanitation besides other officers of the Department.
In his address, the Chief Secretary made out that the accomplishment of goals like developing rural infrastructure and ensuring the sanitation of rural areas are the thrust areas of the Department. He stated that as discussed time and again the officers of the Department especially those manning the local offices should work towards making these areas livable offering best of the facilities to the rural population.
The Chief Secretary recalled that the UT is going to cover about 1.9 lakh houses under PMAY this year which are enough to saturate the housing needs of all the houseless persons here. He observed that the UT has made tremendous progress on many parameters during last few years including creation of AmritSarovars, door to door collection of waste, construction of houses under PMAY etc.
He stated that J&K has made tremendous progress in sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen and hopefully each of its village is going to achieve the status of ODF+ by the upcoming Independence Day. He emphasized on enhancing the capacity of employees so that they are able to reorient their thinking to meet the targets on time.
While presenting the performance of the Department, the Commissioner Secretary, RDD, Mandeep Kaur informed the meeting that J&K has been among the top performing States/UTs in implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (G) by securing ODF+ status to all of its villages.
She gave out that the Department has constructed around 2607 AmritSarovars so far and has issued 13.9 lakh job cards. She also said that under PMAY (G), 139529 houses have been completed so far and more 202603 are to be completed soon.
Moreover it was revealed that the Department was successful in creating thousands of employments for the rural youth under JKRLM, SVEP and MKSP as well. It was said that 83062 SHGs have been created to whom the revolving fund to the tune of Rs 124.59 Cr were provided through credit linkages.
Similarly under Integrated Farming Cluster (MKSP), 2 New projects in 10 blocks of 10 districts to support 12000 SHG members (300 per IFC) have been sanctioned during current FY worth Rs 16.00 Crores.
In the same vein Under SVEP Phase II, 2 units of 4 Blocks were approved with a budget outlay of 1115.00 Lakhs for four years with a target of supporting 4034 enterprises. As on date 210.00 lakhs funds have been released as CEF supporting 559 enterprises as on date.