*People of Doda celebrates 74th Independence Day with great gusto,national spirit and enthusiasm with full Covid-19 safety protocols* _Felicitation of Covid warriors,launch of Nasha Mukht Bharat campaign marked the Independence Day celebrations_ *Deputy Commissioner Doda unfurls tricolor, inspects guard of honour*

DODA,August 15, 2020: 

The 74th Independence Day was today celebrated with great enthusiasm, fervour and national spirit at Sports Stadium Doda wherein the Chief Guest, Deputy Commissioner, Doda Dr Sagar D Doifode unfurled the tricolor and inspected the guard of honour contingents of JKP, CRPF, SSB, FPF, and IRP 5th Bn of the district.

 

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Doda Mumtaz Ahmed, ADC Doda Kishori Lal Sharma, SP Operations, ASP Doda, President MC Doda Ved Prakash Gupta, besides other senior officers from civil and police department, elected members of MC Doda, prominent citizens, social workers, political activisits and number of men, women and children were present on the occasion.

   

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, Doda Dr Sagar D Doifode highlighted the importance of Independence Day and stated that it is the most significant day in the history of India as on this day the sun of independence dawned on the horizon of our motherland ,and the National government came into power after prolong struggle and we became a Independent and sovereign nation. 

 

This was joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. 

He further stressed the people of Doda to work with togetherness for promoting national integration, communal harmony and peace in the district.

 

During his speech, he counted  numerous developmental projects and works undertaken in the district, besides congratulated the people of Doda for their extraordinary cooperation in successfull conduct of BDC Chairman’s election.

 

He said that in PWD (R&B) sector during 2020-2021, 27 number of schemes of roads and bridges have been completed till now and 81 more such schemes are expected to be completed by March 2021, besides informed that 729.94 KM length has also been achieved by the department.

 

Under PWD (R&B),the long pending demand of the people of Doda was to start the mega project of widening of Pul Doda-Beoli which is ongoing and will be completed in the upcoming days on priority. Further he also informed the general public that big project of Goha Sudhmadev Khaleni tunnel are going to start very soon under 2 phases which includes tunnels and 25km road reducing the journey of Doda Jammu by 2 hour’s, besides also said that the pending work of land acquisition and submission of revenue codal formalities has been done and work will be started soon.

 

He said that after coming of the GMC Doda quality of health services have improved, number of specialists are working in the GMC which has lessen the public grievances about health.

 

Moreover he also said that the construction of GMC is going on a fast pace,76% of the work has been completed and subsidiary courses have been started in the GMC and assures that classes of MBBS will start soon.

 

Moreover he also informed about the progress of other mega projects which are ongoing in the district which includes the construction of GDC kilhotran,Govt Polytechnic College Doda,Truck terminal Doda and Multi purpose Indoor hall Doda, besides informed that 2 new colleges have also been sanctioned for the district i.e Women College Doda and GDC Marmat for which land has already been identified and Institute of High Altitude medicinal plant at Bhaderwah has also been sanctioned for which the land has been already identified by the District Administration,adding to this he said that the first installment of the high altitude medicinal plant has also been received and necessary structures are being created for the smooth functioning of the ambitious institution at Bhaderwah.

 

During his speech he also underlined the name of various important projects which are in the pipeline includes Development of various tourist spots like Seoj Dhar,Dedni,Lal Draman(cable car connectivity from Khaleni to Lal Draman), Development of New recreation park’s at Doda.

 

Besides this district administration is also keenly working on the proposal of construction of Auditorium for Doda, Multi storey Bus stand/parking facility at Doda and establishment of Skill Development Centre is one important mention among them.

 

While addressing to the gathering DC said that under PMGSY there are 176 schemes,out of which 169 have been taken up and 67 stands completed which has added about 675.89 KM of fair weather road length in the district,adding to this the DC said that out of 258 no. of habitations proposed to be covered,225 habitations has been covered till date.

 

Referring to Jal Shakti (PHE) department he informed that Jal Jeevan Mission Har Ghar Nal Se Jal has been recently launched in the district.Six blocks under phase-1 are already identified namely Assar, Marmat,Changa, Chilly,Jakyas and Gandoh. 6149 households stands identified to be provided with tapped water, besides said that 109 schemes are taken up with an estimated cost of Rs 124.79 Crores.

 

While counting on the achievements of rural development DC said district administration has successfully completed the two schedules of Back to Village, under 1st edition 242 work’s were approved in all the 237 panchayats of the district.The total number of work’s taken up are 217 out of which 167 stands completed, besides the total expenditure involved in these works are 298.50 lacs.

 

He also said that out of the total works of B2V,212 works are under RDD,20 works under PDD and 10 works are under PHE.

 

Moreover during 2019-2020 under MGNREGA 10342 number of works had been taken up  out of which 8240 works stands completed and  37.69 lakhs person days were generated which is 142% of the target against the target of 26.50 lakhs PD’s. Expenditure incurred under MGNREGA during the year 9217.65 lacs.

 

After seeing the last year performance,the total approved target of PD’s for the district in 2020-21 has reached to 39.00 lacs, against which 11.92 lacs are already achieved which is 31% of the target. The total number of works taken up during the current year are 5512 and the total expenditure against all these works are 6811.93 lacs till date.

 

DC further said that during the lockdown restrictions various stranded labourers returned to the district and MGNREGA is going to address their daily needs by providing them labour employment and district administration this year has also targeted the generation of 50 lacs person days.

 

Under PMAY the DC said that under phase-1(2017-2019),1461 house’s were sanctioned out of which 1370 have been completed and in the second phase(2019-20) against the target of 5268 house’s,the construction work for 5392 houses is going on, besides in the 3rd phase(2020-21),5520 Houses has been sanctioned and it is expected that by the end of this financial year more than 12000 house’s shall be completed across the district including all the left out beneficiaries.

 

Complimenting the PDD sector,the DC said that in comparison to the last year this year the men and machinery of PDD sector has done a commendable job not only in timely restoration during the snowy season but also in reducing the unscheduled curtailment in the district.There was average 12hr cut during the last year winter season but this year it has been reduced to below 6 hrs.

 

Besides said that district administration is also committed to strengthen and augment the existing lines, which includes Doda to Gandoh, Thathri and Bhaderwah so that sufficient power supply can be ensured in these areas respectively.

 

Moreover during the year 2019-20, the department has successfully augmented the recieving station of Doda,Bheli-Ghat and Bhaderwah, besides New Recieving Station of 3.15 MVA at Marmat has also been installed successfully.

 

Under district plan he said that the approved funds for the year 2019-20 were Rs 202.30 crores and for the year 2020-21 the funds approved is 401.61 crores,an increase of nearly 100% of the last year plan.

 

Under Education sector, the DC said that this year due to Covid-19 scare all the schools across the district remained closed, but even during this period of health emergency,the district administration distributed the Dry MDM among the 47491 beneficiaries at their doorstep, besides during (2019-20) 21478 students were provided scholarships and free books were distributed among 50064 students across the district.

 

However the DC also said that the district administration in coordination with the education department during the lock down restrictions conducted Community classes, delivered online lectures and study materials to the students so that they shall be engaged in the studies.

 

Regarding Agriculture sector he said that near about 60000 farming families have been registered for PM-KISSAN Saman Nidhi Yojana out of which 45000 have started recieving financial assistance.About 41340 families had  availed loan facility under KCC during 2019-20 and during the current financial year 19250 farming families has availed the loan,4176 Soil health cards stands distributed during 2019-20 and 995 are distributed during this year and the process is going on and also said that with the cooperation of agriculture department district administration has successfully dispatched the 128.25 MT apple to the outside mandis of Pune,Maharashtra,Delhi etc last season.

 

He also informed that recently a kissan Pakhwada programme was organised in the district on the directions of the Govt of J K UT,under which 100% saturation of KCC cases was ensured by the District Administration and sent to the different banks by the field functionaries of the department for further sanction of loans in favour of the eligible farmer’s, besides Informed that the lavender cultivation has also been increased in the district in comprehensive manner.

 

Referring to the Horticulture and Marketing sector, the DC said that in order to promote the direct marketing of the agricultural produce in the district by the growers a Rural Haat at Pranoo has been constructed,local mandi were also established at agriculture complex in Doda besides the facility of Cold Storage Van has been provided to the farmer’s of the district so that they can sell their perishable produce at distant mandis in fresh manner.

 

Under ,Social Welfare department he informed that 27193 eligible persons had been benefitted under various social security schemes during 2019-20, and 35497 are getting pensions under various schemes during 2020-21, besides Informed that 142 beneficiaries were provided marriage assistance during during the 2020-21 till date.

 

Moreover in ICDS Sector, the DC informed that 42644 beneficiaries were covered under different activities during the year 2019-20 and 38065 beneficiaries have been covered till date during the current financial year , besides said that more activities of beneficiary benefit are identified and will be taken into account in the upcoming days.

 

 

He said that On the eve of this National Day, Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan is also being launched  through out the UT as well as in the Doda district also.

 

He appealed the general public of the district specifically the youth of the district to pledge that they shall not indulge in any kind of the activity which hampers their growth and advice them to take care of their near and dear ones and advice to practice the healthy lifestyle without indulging in to the addiction of the drugs.

 

Highlighting the efforts of District Administration Doda regarding effective Covid-19 management in the district, the DC said that district administration has performed well in time and has successfully curbs the community transmission of deadly virus across the district till now by taking the important steps in the interest of the general public.

 

About 5 lacs face masks were locally produced and were distributed among the general public across the district through FCS&CA department, besides near about 5000 PPE kit’s were also locally produced which were distributed among all the frontline workers.

 

The DC also informed that, during the ongoing scare of Covid-19 and to treat the covid patients in effective manner ,the district administration has also fortified the health institutions with the purchase of latest medical equipments.

 

Two high value ventilators were purchased by DDMA Doda and were handed over to GMC Doda for the benefits of Patient, besides oxygen concentrators,pulse oximeters, suction machines, nebulizers were also purchased and handed over to the health department to place in the peripheral health institutions.

 

Moreover he informed that number of sanitization tunnels have been errected, surveillance and QRT teams were constituted, trainings and awareness were imparted to more than 4500 person’s viz district officer’s, PRI/ULB members,Asha workers etc, besides installation of Aarogya Setu app and wearing of face mask has been made compulsory and rapid antigen testing has also been started at district level to detect the cases at earliest.

 

Highlighting other important district level special initiatives like Publication of First ever Coffee Table Book of the district which is based on the developmental activities carried out in the district in last 2 years by the different departments, Zimedari Ek Ehsaas under which concept of grading was introduced and schools are bearing the fruits of this initiative,the start of DC batch under which free coaching of civil services and Career guidance was provided to more than 50 candidates by the faculty from Pune and by the KAS officer’s ,the conduct of first ever film festival, besides other initiatives like conduct of public outreach programmes, Health Melas and Craft exhibition were also organised.

 

At the end of his speech

Deputy Commissioner, Doda showered praise towards security forces and congratulated them for working day and night to maintain peace in the district,besides thanks the elected representatives, Police, Army, CRPF, SSB,IRP, SDRF, District officials, education department, participants, and media persons for extending sufficient support in organising this national event.

 

He lauded the efforts of the Covid-19 warriors for working day and night in the service of the general public without caring about their health and families,due to which today we are in the green zone category and are having less than 50 active cases in the district.

 

He said that the district administration and people of Doda will be grateful for their services and asked them to continue with the same dedication until and  unless the war against this deadly virus is not completely won.

 

Besides DC appeals the general public  for maintaining peace and communal harmony during the turbulent times and appealed to all people not to fall prey to the vicious designs of anti national people who are trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the district. 

  

Cultural programmes displaying rich cultural traditions and ethos were also presented by the local artists which was arranged by the Academy of Art Culture and Languages department Doda.

 

Main attractions were Display of Tableaus presented by the different departments highlighting their key activities,saraji and bhaderwahi folk  songs organised by cultural department were the main eye catching events. 

 

Later, Deputy Commissioner Doda, SSP Doda,ADC Doda, distributed  trophies, commendation certificates and mementoes among the Officers /Officials for their exemplary services in different fields besides felicitated the Covid warriors for their outstanding performances during the ongoing scare of Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Similar celebrations were also held at Sub district Bhaderwah,Sub divisions, Blocks and Tehsil level where Block Development Chairpersons unfurled the tricolor, besides at Tehsil

Headquarter Mohalla and Bhella Concerned Tehsildars unfurled

the Tricolor.Cultural programmes

were also presented on the occasion.