74th Independence Day celebrated in Rajour: Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Mohammad Nazir Sheikh Unfurls the National Flag

Syed Zahid

Rajouri, August 15: The 74th Independence Day was observed across the district with great fervor and national spirit amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebrations were held at district headquarters, all additional districts, sub-divisions and tehsil headquarters. The main function was organised at DPL grounds Rajouri where chief guest, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nazir Sheikh unfurled the National Flag and took the salute. All the SOPs were followed during the event.

The contingents of JKAP, JK Executive Police, JK police band, CRPF, JK FPF, SPO offered standing salute while DySP Zaheer Abbas commanded the parade.

Prominent who personalities present on the occasion were Hon’ble District Principal Session Judge, Jaffer Hussain, DIG Rajouri Poonch Vivek Gupta, SSP Chandan Kholi, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sher Singh, Additional SP Liaqat Choudhary, ACR, Mohd Ashraf Ex-MP Choudhary Talib Hussain, Ex-Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People Kuldeep Raj Gupta, retired officers, social activists, Educationist, Officers from Army and CRPF, District heads of different departments.

Besides BDC chairperson Rajouri, Darbaar Choudhary, President MC Rajouri, Mohd Arif, Vice President Bharat Bushan, and other panchayat Raj and urban local body members attended the event.

In his Independence Day speech the Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nazir Sheikh while extending warm greetings to the Rajouri Public, paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters whose supreme sacrifices had won the freedom. He also paid homage to all the martyrs of Rajouri who laid their lives from time to time for safeguarding the territorial integrity of state and nation.

As far as development is concerned he added that the district administration worked hard to provide the public better road infrastructure, healthcare facilities, quality education; road connectivity, electricity and water supply to left out villages besides ensuring social security to aged, physically challenged and widows; and self-employment avenues to unemployed youth in the district. He also highlighted that the Government has sanctioned 208 number of languishing projects under different departments at an estimated amount of ₹355 crores. The languishing projects include roads bridges, water supply schemes, health infrastructure and augmentation of the Power sector projects in the district. He also accentuated that work on 109 languishing projects have been completed while rest projects are in different phases of execution.

During his address to the citizens of Rajouri, the Deputy Commissioner said the District’s achievement in terms of Road connectivity is 201 Km of the road has been blacktopped, and 322 Km of roads have been made fair weather in the District thus connecting 18 villages and 22 Habitation.

Under Power Sector he said the District has achieved a hundred percent target under the SAUBHAGYA scheme, besides 316 substations and two 50 MVA grid stations (Sioux and Bhattian) have been completed; thus a step towards ensuring uninterrupted power supply and mitigating the chances of low voltage.

Under the Education sector besides ensuring the online classes, 74952 students have been provided with free books,ST/ Pahari scholarships have been provided to 50000 students of ist to 5th class. Moreover, 150000 students were provided with free uniforms in the District. He said due to the nationwide lockdown amid COVID the School Education Department has provided a house to house dry rations.

He also said 100 bedded Girls hostel plangrah has been completed while the work on the Eklavya Residential is in progress.

While narrating the progress and achievements under Jal Shakti Abhiyaan the Deputy Commissioner said 2400 earth ponds in 312 panchayats have been constructed and under “Har gal Nal se jal” he said 78000 households would be provided with tapped water connections.

“Regarding health sector, the deputy commissioner said, the work on the mother and child hospital Rajouri has been completed, Trauma centre has been established at PHC Manjakote, the work on the 139 core GMC Project is in full swing and will be completed this year. He also said 1575 patients have been provided with dialysis sessions in GMC Rajouri. He also said to augment the health infrastructure the additional buildings of SDH Sunderbani and Nowshera are under construction while the CHC Teryath has been completed.

Deputy Commissioner also highlighted the successful implementation of centrally sponsored schemes of health departments like Aysushman Bharat, PM-SYM, PM-KISAN, etc. DC further said the district administration is venturing hard to achieve inclusive development of all regions of district involving all sections of society and special attention has been given for ensuring participation of women in development process.

The Deputy’s Commissioner said the district administration has started aggressive testing, contact taxing, and sampling soon after the first case reported in the District. He said as of now there are 32 red zones, 657 patients have been recovered and discharged from the hospitals, 03 number of deaths have been reported in the District , 124 Quarantine centres have been established,10 COVID care centres and 40000 sampling have been done. Besides free reusable cotton masks have been provided to the public to contain the spread of infection.

He also said that a transparent, accountable, responsive and efficient administration is ensured in the district and persistent efforts are made to reach out to the public at their doorsteps for delivery of services and listening to their grievances.The DC said that Rajouri district is known all over the state and country for its rich cultural heritage and harmony among people of different faiths.He also added, “No divisive force should ever be allowed to disrupt this peaceful atmosphere”.On the occasion, students from government and private institutions presented cultural programmes based on themes of patriotism and communal harmony.

It is pertinent to mention here that amid COVID-19, the cultural programmes could not be conducted; and all the SOPs were followed in letter and Spirit. The Corona Warriors were also felicitated for their outstanding work during the pandemic.

In order to make the District Addiction-free, the Deputy Commissioner also launched the Nasha Mukth Abhigyan in the District.