LEH: An important meeting to review the “Action Taken Reports” related to the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) was headed by Dr. Pawan Kotwal, the administrative secretary of the Home Department and advisor to the lieutenant governor of UT Ladakh. The meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat in Leh. The meeting’s objectives were to assess progress and plan for the future by focusing on a variety of themes, including social justice, rural development, and healthcare programmes. The primary focus was on hastening the examination and settlement of instances involving sexual offences against minors and women. In order to reduce pendency and guarantee prompt justice, Dr. Pawan Kotwal underlined the importance of the Fast Track Special Cases (FTSC) scheme’s efficient execution.In addition, discussions encompassed the expansion of banking services and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanisms to rural regions, with a specific emphasis on the establishment of bank branches and postal banking facilities in 34 villages, as well as the complete digitization of all eligibility documents. It was thoroughly discussed how to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and healthcare provisions through the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) and the adoption of Model Bye-Laws for new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), which allow them to undertake more than 25 economic activities. Concerns about the school dropout rate of children were discussed, with a focus on the POSHAN Abhiyan’s efforts to reduce malnutrition among girls.All concerned personnel have been asked by Dr. Pawan Kotwal to accelerate the action and provide a thorough action taken report within a 15-day period. Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education; Additional Director General of Police; Commissioner/Secretary of the Department of Social and Tribal Welfare; Administrative Secretary of the Department of Cooperatives; Director of Finance; Deputy Director (K) of the Department of Planning, Development, and Monitoring; Superintendent of Post Offices, UT of Ladakh; Senior PO/APP, Directorate of Prosecution, Ladakh; Under Secretary to the Department of Home; and other relevant officers.
