SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today impressed upon the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Department to work for meeting housing targets given under PMAY-Grameen and other schemes implemented by the Department. Besides the Secretary RD&PR, the meeting was attended by MD, JKRLM; DG, Rural Sanitation; Director, RDD, Kashmir/Jammu and other concerned officers. The Chief Secretary took this occasion to enjoin upon the Department to develop a strategy to meet all the targets given under different schemes implemented here. He made out that since the funding under centrally sponsored schemes is not a problem so the Department should equally reciprocate in showing progress in specific timeframes. Dulloo further advised the Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) to explore the full potential of the SHGs formed across the rural areas of the UT. He asked for minimizing the gap between the number of SHGs given the Revolving Fund (RF) and those provided Community Investment Fund (CIF). He directed for purposeful linkage of these SHGs with the financial institutions for earning of gainful employment by the women associated with them. Regarding the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned to make the assets durable and useful for all times to come. He called for formulating a model after studying those adopted in other States/UTs to sustain the sanitation activities initiated in each ODF+ Model category village. During this meeting the Secretary, RD&PR, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary provided significant insights into the performance of the Department made on PMAY-G. He also threw light on other achievements made by the Department on account of release of different payment instalments, inspections and status of completion of houses under SECC, Awas Plus, Convergence and other schemes. It was given out that out of the target of 335275 houses sanctioned, Ist instalment had been released in favour of 334109 beneficiaries, 281901 had received the 2nd instalment, 210865 3rd, 47465 the 4th instalment with cumulative achievement of 228031 houses completed till date. It was added that under convergence scheme besides constructing toilets, the beneficiaries are provided with LPG, water, electricity connections by the Department. The meeting was apprised about the roadmap for completion of ongoing houses by March, 2025. It was given out that Rs. 72.65 Cr are being disbursed by undertaking geo-tagging & FTOs on priority. Moreover, in favour of 41,919 beneficiaries 2nd instalment has been transferred more than one month ago to intensify their completion on time. The meeting was further informed that 100% convergence under the scheme ensures making available these PMAY-G houses with all basic amenities. Regarding the implementation of RLM here it was revealed by the MD, JKRLM that 90908 SHGs had been formed across the UT with involvement of 742507 households. It was also given out that RF in favour of 67754 SHGs (Rs 101.63 Cr) and CIF in favour of 57696 (Rs353.2 Cr)had been released till now. In addition 7025 Village Organisations (VO),588 Cluster Level Federations (CLF) and 12 number of FPOs formed first time under the mission. About the introduction of Lok Operating System (LoKOS) it was divulged that it is umbrella Mobile application and a Single source of up-to-date and validated data for registering members, create CBOs and capture & validate their information under NRLM/SRLM. The app is also managing operations such as attendance, savings, loans disbursal, repayments, book-keeping and other financial activities. About Lakhpati Didi, it was said that the UT has been assigned a target of supporting 2.33 Lakh households to be converted into Lakhpati fold over a period of 2 yeas and JKRLM had identified 236475 potential lakhpati Didis to be supported to meet the target. As far as the SBM is concerned, it was added that SBM-G Phase-II, initiated in February 2020, aims to maintain ODF status and improve sanitation in rural areas through Solid and Liquid Waste Management. It was further disclosed that out of the target of 36000 IHHLs, 28653 had been constructed along with 80 CSCs constructed. Regarding the smooth conduct of Door to Door collection, it was given out that 1453 additional vehicles would be procured for garbage collection. In addition, the meeting was apprised that 6385 community compost pits had to be developed for wet waste management at village level and 846 stands tendered. In addition 7493 community soak pits will be constructed for the community, schools and other government establishments registering a progress of 1124 tendered so far.
