UDHAMPUR: Union Minister for Women, Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, today launched an awareness campaign on Single Use Plastics (SUP) at Patnitop after she reached Udhampur for her two day visit to the district as part of Public Outreach Programme of Modi government.
Pertinently, Patnitop Development Authority has embarked upon a comprehensive plan towards imposing complete ban on Single Use Plastics all across its jurisdiction in accordance with the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 and Patnitop Development Authority Solid Waste Management Bye-Laws, 2021, to curb plastic pollution and protect the fragile ecosystem for a sustainable future.
The objective of the awareness campaign was to sensitize the people about the risks associated with SUP, assess the public opinion, promote usage of alternatives.
Appreciating the eco-friendly initiative of PDA while launching the awareness campaign from the lush green meadows of Patnitop, Smriti Irani urged upon the stakeholders and tourists for their support and cooperation in preserving the natural beauty and ecological balance of Patnitop Tourism Circuit.
“Plastics have adverse effects on all living beings and their ecosystems. Single Use Plastics particularly, have high littering potential and best way is to reduce their usage and gradually shun them. Behavioral change might seem difficult, but it is not impossible. Here, in this picturesque destination, tourists and tourism stakeholders, and the local populace must support the shift away from the reliance on plastics. They can also lead the way through innovation in plastic management, feasible alternatives and pollution management,” Union Minister maintained.
On the occasion, Chief Executive Officer PDA, said, “PDA has been taking several initiatives to maintain ‘Clean Patnitop Green Patnitop’. We request the stakeholders to share their inputs and suggestions regarding effective imposition of the ban, innovative solutions and alternatives to plastics.”
Earlier, the Union Minister conducted an extensive tour of Udhampur to review progress on various ongoing development works being executed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and other programmes.
District Development Council Chairperson, Lal Chand, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda, Vice Chairperson DDC, Juhi Manhas Pathania, Deputy Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, SSP, Dr Vinod Kumar besides DDC and BDCs members and other district heads of various departments attended the meeting.
Union Minister took comprehensive review of financial and physical progress achieved under district Capex budget 2021-22 and 2022-23 and other vital development plans of Centre government.
Smriti Irani directed the concerned departments to mobilize their men and machinery for effective implementation of all schemes. She emphasized coverage of 100 per cent eligible beneficiaries under all schemes.
While reviewing road wise progress of RDD and PWD sectors, Union Minister directed the concerned authorities to expedite the pace of progress on these works so that the set targets are achieved as per the given timelines.
Union Minister exhorted upon the DC to regularly monitor all ongoing development works and get feedback from district officers on daily basis for effective implementation.
Smriti Irani said that the Centre government has launched various historic flagship programmes under the leadership of Prime Minister. She called upon the officers to make dedicated efforts towards taking the benefits of all these schemes to the targeted sections of the society.
Union Minister directed the officers to develop a good rapport with the people and pay them regular visits so as to assess their development needs and aspirations. She also asked them to organize awareness camps in all remote and far-flung areas so that the people are made aware about the benefits of these schemes.
She directed the concerned departments to ensure that all the schemes launched by the Centre government are implemented in letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, the district heads of various departments apprised the Union Minister of status of different schemes taken up by their respective departments.
Later, Union Minister had an interactive session with the PRI members who briefed her about various centrally sponsored schemes being implemented in their respective areas. She also sought feedback from them regarding status of implementation of various CSSs on ground.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, gave a sector wise detailed PowerPoint Presentation on various ongoing development works, flagship schemes being executed by different departments in the district.
He also briefed about the progress on various mega projects including Yoga International Convention Centre Mantalai, Chenani Sudhmahadev road (NH-244), NH-44, Udhampur to Chenani, Integrated Development of Tourist Facilitation centre at Mantalai. She also took stock of other sectors like PHE, PWD, PDD, Health, PMGSY, Social Welfare, Education, Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development Department, ICDS, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Jal Jeevan Mission, MGNREGA, etc.
The PRI representatives projected several issues and demands which inter alia included pending liabilities under MGNREGA works, implementation of JJM, establishment of degree college at Moungri, shortage of staff in educational institutions, installation of transformer, acute shortage of drinking water supply in Udhampur city, dilapidated condition of PMGSY road, establishment of cutting and tailoring centre, SRTC Bus service and other matters.
Union Minister issued on the spot directions to the concerned officers for resolving the issues projected during the session in a time bound manner.
As part of Public Outreach Programme launched by the Centre government, the Union Minister today conducted public meeting cum grievances redressal camp at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KV) Chenani, Udhampur.
Chairperson, District Development Council, Lal Chand, Deputy Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Additional District Development Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop Development Authority, Additional Deputy Commissioner besides DDC and BDC members and other senior officers of various departments attended the public outreach programme.
During the camp, Block Development Council Chairman, Parkash Chand, President MC Chenani, Manik Gupta besides Sarpanchs and Panchs projected several demands and issues concerning their respective areas. The issues inter alia included sanctioning of ITI College at Chenani, establishment of Indoor stadium, sanctioning of Nursing college, increase in monthly honorarium of Anganwadi Workers, establishment of Anganwadi centres in every ward, construction of road from Patnitop to Mantalai, land compensation, marketing of local products, shortage of staff in educational institutions, special package for block Chenani, regularization of daily wagers etcetera.
Union Minister, while responding to the issues and demands raised, issued on the spot directions to the concerned officers for resolving the same at the earliest.
Smriti Irani expressed satisfaction over implementation of several government schemes in the district. She appreciated the district administration for ensuring successful implementation of various development and welfare schemes in the district.
Union Minister said that the Central Government is committed to provide benefit of all government schemes to the last man in the last row.
Elaborating on several initiatives launched by the Center government, Smriti Irani said that Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) “SEHAT” scheme is the largest health insurance scheme which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.
She also highlighted other CSSs like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi saying that ‘under this scheme, landholding farmer families, having cultivable land up to 2 hectare, are being provided direct financial support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year’. This income support is being transferred directly into their bank accounts in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000.
She called upon the officers to make dedicated efforts towards taking the benefits of all government schemes to the targeted sections of the society. She emphasized that the government has empowered PRIs, which are acting as a bridge between the government and the public and has resulted in increasing the pace of development in all sectors.
On the occasion, different departments including Agriculture, Horticulture, Sports, Health, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Social Welfare, Handicraft and Handloom had set up their awareness stalls.
Union Minister visited and inspected the departmental stalls set up by these departments for disseminating information about their respective welfare and development schemes. She also interacted with the officers there and reviewed progress on their schemes.
Union Minister also distributed sports kits under Khelo India, presented Sehat cards under Ayushmann Bharat scheme, wheel chairs and mamta kits among the beneficiaries.
Earlier, Smriti Irani planted trees in the premises of KV.
