*People of Doda celebrates 75th Independence Day with great gusto, national spirit, enthusiasm & with Covid-19 safety protocols* *District Development Council Chairman Doda hoisted tricolor, inspects guard of honour, flag off Nasha Mukt Bharat Awareness Vehicle* *Health, Revenue, Police and information departments, Electronic/ Print Media applauded for their contribution in mitigating covid-19*

Doda,August 15, 2021: 

The 75th Independence Day was today celebrated with great enthusiasm, fervour and national spirit at Sports Stadium Doda wherein the Chief Guest, Hon’ble District Development Council Chairman Doda Sh. Dhananter Singh Kotwal hoisted the tricolor and inspected the contingents of JKP, CRPF, SSB, FPF, IRP 5th Bn, NCC Sr & Jr wings, Home Guards and of various schools of the Doda.

 

Vice Chairperson DDC Doda Smt Sangeeta Rani Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner Doda Vikas Sharma, Principal GMC Doda Dr Dinesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police (SP)Abdul Qayoom, ADDC Doda Hanief Malik, DDC Members, ADC Doda Dr R K Bharti, Conservator Forest department, SP Operations, Commandant IRP 5th Bn, Dy Commandant IRP 5th Bn, PO ICDS, GM DIC, President MC Doda, ASP Doda, ACR Doda, AC SSB Kahleni, besides Ex legislators other senior officers from civil and police department, 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 Hon’ble DDC Chairperson Doda Sh Dhananter Singh Kotwal 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 an 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.

 

The Hon’ble DDC Chairperson said that to achive this freedom thousands of freedom fighters had laid their lives in the past so that coming generations should enjoy their life in free India which is one of the great Civilizations of the world and to keep ensuring its freedom we should always standout for our paramilitary forces, police, army because of their duty at borders we are safe in these areas. 

 

The DDC Chairperson said that brotherhood and patriotism of all the  communities living in this great nation is exemplary and has been sustained through aegis in this country, besides said that under the able guidance of PM Narendra Modi the country is achieving greatest milestones in development and we are assured that our UT of J&K will achieve the same development as the rest of the developed UTs have achieved.

 

While speaking the DDC Chairperson informed that it has been now more than two years that the scare of Covid-19 is still looming over our heads like the other parts of the world and to deal with this our excellent scientific institutions have invented one of the standard vaccines for the safety of the people of our country.

 

Moreover during pandemic various welfare measures were also rolled out by the Centre Govt under the overall guidance of PM Narendra Modi for the sustenance of the poor and needy people which includes PMGKY under which around 6232 BPL families have been provided free ration, besides the Labour department has credited an amount of Rs 3.42 Crores directly into the accounts of 15887 registered beneficiaries as covid installments, in addition to this under PM Ujwala Yojana around 47786 families have been provided free gas connections, 482 unemployed youth have been sanctioned loan under PMEGP and 192910 people have been registered under PM-JAY Ayushman Bharat and Golden cards have been given to them and the registration is ongoing at a rapid pace.

 

To adress the unemployment among the Youth of J&K, UT Govt has launched the Mission Youth program under which various schemes have been incorporated which includes “Mumkin Scheme” in which around 70 youth of the district are going to provided load carrier’s at first instance for which the cases have already been sanctioned, under “Tejaswini scheme” unemployed young females shall be provided loan benefits to earn their own livelihood for applications have been asked by the Nodal department, besides in all 237 panchayats of the district the Youth Clubs have been formulated who shall henceforth took active participation in the development of their respective areas.

 

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 maiden DDC elections in the district which has laid the foundation of the three tier system in the district like other parts of the UT of J&K.

 

He said that in PWD (R&B) sector out of 225 ongoing schemes, 29 number of schemes of roads and bridges have been completed till now and 108 more such schemes are expected to be completed by March 2021, besides informed that 126.65 KM length of BT has to be done by the department out of which 31.10 have already been done.

 

Further the Chief guest informed that under PMGSY sector out of 180 schemes, 85 stands completed and 94 are targeted for completion during this year, besides said that it will improve the road connectivity in the rural areas, adding to this he said that this year 357.21 km BT is to be done by the department out of which 66 km have been completed.

 

He said that after coming of the GMC Doda Various new PG Diploma courses which also known as DNB courses have been started during this year.

 

Moreover he also informed about the progress of mega projects which are ongoing in the district at a rapid pace which includes the construction of GMC Doda, GDC kilhotran, Govt Polytechnic College Doda, High Altitude Medicinal Plant at Bhaderwah and Multi purpose Indoor hall Doda.

 

During his speech he also underlined the name of various important projects which are in the pipeline includes Multi storey Bus stand/parking facility at Doda, Women Degree College, Degree College Marmat, Auditorium Doda,Tribal Bhawan, SC Girls Hostel, Auditorium at Bhaderwah, and Cable Car project are  important mention among them.

 

Referring to Jal Shakti (PHE) department he informed that Jal Jeevan Mission Har Ghar Nal Se Jal has been already rolled out under which there are almost 250 schemes at an estimated cost of 708 crores out of which 10 schemes stands tendered and others are in estimation process, besides to address the immediate issues of water supply under district capex 346 schemes have been identified across the district.

 

While counting on the achievements of rural development he said district administration has successfully completed the two schedules of Back to Village, under 1st edition 242 works were approved in all the 237 panchayats of the district.The total number of works 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 2020-21 under MGNREGA 12364 number of works had been taken up and completed and 55.04 lakhs person days employment to the beneficiaries were generated.

 

After seeing the last year performance, the total approved target of PDs for the district in 2021-22 has reached to 44.48 lacs, against which 1.39 lacs are already achieved. The total number of works to be taken up during the current year are 13412 and the execution of works are going on at rapid pace at ground level.

 

Under PMAY the DDC Chairperson said that last year 4570 houses have been constructed across the district and during the current financial year 7594 houses are expected to be completed and in addition to this 5520 new Awass plus houses have been sanctioned for the district.

 

Complimenting the PDD sector DDC Chairperson said that at various locations across the district the works are being excuted at rapid pace and in coming days around 16000 wooden poles will be replaced for which the tender has been made and to improve the infrastructure 7 new 33KV receiving stations are going to be established which will inturn adress the unscheduled power cuts issue especially in rural areas.

 

Highlighting the efforts in the toursim sector he said that avenues have been created under which new hotels will be established for which the DIC shall provide the loan upto One crore to the unemployed youth of the district which will be on 50% subsidy basis, besides to give further impetus to the tourism sector various locations are being connected through a network of various roads.

 

Similarly Chatter Gala tunnel, Chennai Sudhmahadev tunnel, Goha tunnel, thathri-Kaljugasar-Chamba road and Gandoh Jai road projects shall make the district highly visible on the tourism map of the country and district will achieve new heights in tourism also.

 

Regarding Agriculture sector he said that near about 60000 farming families have been registered for PM-KISSAN Saman Nidhi Yojana out of which 49447 have started recieving financial assistance of 6000 per year. About 70468 families have been provided KCC cards to avail loan facility so that doubling of farmers income shall be actually made successful at grassroot level.

 

He has further said that in district Doda around 905.76 quintal High variety seed has been distributed and around 24649 hectare land have been covered under cultivation, in addition to this an increase in production of honey and mushroom has  also been wintnessed in the district which stands at 750 quintal and 37.50 quintal.

 

Under horticulture department schemes during this year more than 9939 saplings have been planted and High Density Plantation have been done on around 42 hectares, and during this year  almost 10 hectares Ultra high density plantation will be done, besides 86 farmers have been provided power tillers.

 

Moreover under Floriculture, stress have been laid to increase the Lavender cultivation in the district and on around 40 hectares cultivation is being done which is expected to generate 550 kilo lavender oil which is inturn expected to generate the local income upto 50 lakhs, besides on 35 hectares Marigold cultivation is being done during this year.

 

Under, Social Welfare department he informed that 38563 eligible persons are getting benefits under various social security schemes,  on monthly basis without any unnecessary delays, besides Informed that 73 beneficiaries were provided Prosthetic aid and motorised tricycle are being provided to the 15 beneficiaries in the upcoming days by the department.

 

He also said that on the eve of the previous year independence Day, Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan was also being launched  through out the UT as well as in the Doda district and department has conducted extensive awareness programs across the district under which youth have actively participated.

 

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 to practice the healthy lifestyle without indulging in to the addiction of the drugs.The Chief Guest also administered the Nasha Mukht Bharat pledge which was reciprocated by the entire participants including general public, in addition to this the Chief Guest also flagged off the awareness vehicle on the Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan from the venue.

 

At the end of his speech

DDC Chairperson Doda appeals the general public to take maximum benefits from the welfare schemes run by the Union and UT Govt, to fight collectively against the corruption, to take good care of themselves by following all the Covid-19 SOPs, besides shall make yourself vaccinated so that the spread of this deadly virus shall be completely curbed.

 

Limited Cultural programmes displaying rich cultural traditions and ethos were also  presented by the local schools and by the Academy of Art Culture and Languages department. 

Health, Revenue, Police and information departments, Electronic/ Print Media were also applauded for their contribution and services in mitigating covid-19. 

 

Main attractions were Display of Tableaus presented by the different departments highlighting their key activities.

 

Later,Chief Guest DDC Chairman Doda, Deputy Commissioner Doda, SP Doda, ADDC Doda, ADC Doda, distributed  trophies, commendation certificates and momentoes 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 etc.

 

Similar celebrations were also held at Sub district, Sub division, Blocks and Tehsil level where Block Development Chairpersons hoisted the tricolor, at Block headquarters. Besides Cultural programmes

were also presented on the occasion.