*People of Doda celebrate 74th Republic Day with great fervour & enthusiasm* _Chairman DDC Doda, unfurls tricolour, inspects guard of honour._ _Appreciates District Admin for Exemplary Public Services, ADBHUT Doda initiative_

Doda, January 26: People of Doda celebrated 74th Republic Day 2023 with great enthusiasm, fervour and national spirit at Sports Stadium Doda wherein the Chief Guest, Chairman District Development Council (DDC) Doda, Sh Dhananter Singh Kotwal unfurled the tricolour and took salute of the march past of contingents from JKP, CRPF, SSB, JKAP, JKP, FPF, NCC Jr, NCC Senior, Home Guard and scores of students from GDC Doda and government/private schools.

 

Vice Chairperson DDC Sangeeta Rani Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner Doda Vishesh Paul Mahajan, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Doda Abdul Qayoom, President MC Doda Ved Prakash Gupta, BDC Chairpersons, DDC members, ADDC Doda Pran Singh, ADC Doda Dr R K Bharti, Principal GMC Doda, besides other senior officers from civil and police administration, Army, CRPF, IRP, BSF, elected members of MC Doda, PRIs, prominent citizens, social workers, political activisits and numbers of men, women and children were present on the occasion.

 

DDC Chairman in his address highlighted the importance of the Republic Day and said that this day reminds us or our freedom struggle and how the great freedom fighter of our country sacrificed their lives to get us the Purn Swaraj (Complete freedom). It is because or their freedom struggle and the values enshrined by all of them in the Constitution for the welfare of the citizens that today we are living in a democratic country where each citizen has, Right to equality, Right to freedom, Right against exploitation, Right to freedom of religion, Cultural and Educational rights, and Right to constitutional remedies.

Today is the day to re-affirm our commitment to unity in diversity, fraternity, and equality among our citizens, he added.

Chairman mentioned of various prestigious projects and schemes which have upgraded the socio-economic status of the people of this district. He informed that GMC, Doda, and its allied infrastructure in District Doda is near completion, moreover, it is functioning in new building at Ghat. High Altitude Medicinal plant in Bhaderwah, Govt. Polytechnic College Doda, Govt. Degree College Kastigarh are likely to be completed within the next few months & after the completion of these projects, not only District Doda but also the entire UT will get the benefits. Multipurpose Indoor Hall Doda has been completed and shall soon be dedicated to the public. To provide employment to the youth of District Doda, various sel-femployment schemes have been launched by the UT Government in District Doda under the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, “Berozgar se

Swarozgar” and “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. The Government of UT has taken this mission of employment generation into new heights. Alone in 2022-23, 3317 cases under various self-employment schemes have been sponsored, out of which 1726 sanctioned and 2703 youth have been provided the employment in the district, till date.

Under Social Security Schemes, like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna, Atal Pension Yojna, more than 90,999 eligible citizens have already taken the long term benefit & various other schemes in this category have been saturated in the District like, Widow Pension Scheme, Old-age Pension Scheme & Pension for Physically Challenged persons etc.

One or its unique kind of initiative of the Government is Ayushman Bharat/Sehat Scheme under which 100% families are covered and 88% Golden Cards have already been issued among the citizens of the District.

The focus area of CAPEX Budget 2022-23 is rural infrastructure, enhancement and augmentation of power distribution capacity, health, education and water related activities. 28956 works are targeted for completion out of which 14934 works have been completed so far. Under JJM, work on 106 water supply schemes throughout the district is in progress, which shall ensure the supply of safe drinking water to every household in the district. Besides, NHIDCL is working day and night to complete the work and dedicate to the public new alternate national highway, reducing the distance and saving our precious time.

The distribution of 99.80% land pass books in the District has taken this district to a unique position in the UT.

To weed out the corruption and for speedy public delivery, the Government has completely shifted every public service of all departments to online mode so that the citizens shall get their due services at their door-steps. For redressing of on spot genuine grievances of the public, the Block Diwas and Thana Diwas programmes are being held weekly in the District in which on spot public grievances of the area are getting redressed which also include on spot distribution of benefits under various Government schemes to the citizens.

 He welcomed the decision of UT administration in awarding district Doda for its meritorious public service delivery. He appreciated the district administration for rendering exemplary services to the public, which have been duly recognised by UT administration. He appreciated the efforts of Doda Administration regarding re-starting of 22 held up road projects in the District.

Since the Government is committed to raise the living standard of its citizens, ensuring inclusive growth under the notion Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas and sab ka vishwas”. To carry forward this, District Administration

Doda has taken various initiatives and the focus is on youth, Skills, Self-Employment, Good Governance along with “Nasha Mukht” “Rozgar Yukt” and “Adhbut Doda”.

Among others, some of initiatives taken by District Administration Doda are; Online Classes through ICT; e-Library; GIS Based Attendance System for Government employees; APP Ke Gaon main App Ka Tehsildar; DC Online; School Prabhari Officer Scheme, etc.

 

Chairman expressed his pleasure seeing enthusiasm of the people of Doda as every where there is illumination of entire city in tricolor on this auspicious day. He congratulated all those youngesters who have qualified for JKAS from Doda Ditrict recently . He further stressed the people of Doda to work with togetherness, for promoting national integration, communal harmony and peace in the district. While concluding his speech he appealed all the general public of the district to come forward and to take maximum benefits of the govt schemes and urged them to extend full cooperation to the Administration for the overall development of the district.

 

Main attractions of Republic Day celebrations at Sports Stadium Doda were Display of Tableaus, performance by the JK Academy of Art Culture and Languages, besides other eye-catching performances of school students.

Later, DDC Chairman,Vice Chairperson, Deputy Commissioner Doda, SSP Doda, distributed trophies among students for outstanding performances in cultural items and parades, etc.

 

 Similar function was reported from Bhaderwah, where Municipal Committee Bhaderwah, President Dr Shahid Rehman Moghal, unfurled the National Flag. Besides the Republic Day celebrations were also reported from Subdivision headquarters of Assar, Thathri, Gandoh, tehsil headquarters, other District offices and educational institutions where tricolour was unfurled by the designated persons and cultural programmes were held.