Weekly Block Diwas: DC Kathua Rakesh Minhas visits Billawar, chairs Public Outreach programme

Kathua : As part of weekly Block Diwas initiative of the UT government, Deputy Commissioner, (DC) Kathua, Rakesh Minhas presided over a Public Outreach Programme here in the premises of PWD Rest House Billawar .
BDC Chairperson Billawar, Ashok Kumar; President Billawar MC, Umakant Basotra; DDC Member Billawar, DDC Member Nagrota Gujroo, DDC Member Mandli, ADC Billawar Vinay Khosla; Chief Planning Officer, Uttam Singh and other district officers and officials, besides a large number of people attended the programme.
The programme witnessed scores of individuals and deputations including PRI members projecting demands and informing the DC about the problems being faced by the inhabitants of their respective areas.
The people submitted a memorandum of demands seeking the resolution of issues including better road connectivity, drinking water supply, meeting shortage of staff in the Education and Health department, besides other amenities.
Listening patiently to the demands of people, the DC passed on the spot instructions to the concerned departments for time bound redress of all the issues.The DC said the motive behind these outreach programmes was to get first hand appraisal of the problems and development needs of the people and work out the mechanism to address them in a time bound manner.
He assured people that the projected issues will be looked into and efforts will be made to redress them on priority basis.Regarding the issue of shortage of staff in health institutions and government schools, the DC assured to explore the possibility of rationalization of staff to meet the needs of far off areas.
On the issue of more playgrounds in rural periphery, the DC directed ADC Billawar to identify suitable lands to utilize the same for sports activities. He also asked to develop recreational facilities for the youngsters. The DC assured that the issue of poor mobile phone connectivity would be flagged at appropriate level to provide relief to the uncovered pockets of the district.
Taking serious view of delay on the part of the contractor to hand over the new building of CHC Billawar, the DC directed the CMO to take up the matter on priority and shift the gynecology section to the new building.Responding to the demand of early repair of defunct handpumps, the DC asked the concerned officer to submit a detailed report and start the restoration work at the earliest.
He directed ADC Billawar to ensure alternate means like tanker supply to provide potable water to water deficit areas. Later, the DC inspected the stalls set up by different departments exhibiting their schemes and programmes. Similarly, Block Diwas program was also held at Basohli sub division.