SRINAGAR: The state’s minister for rural development Saturday said New Delhi has failed to give due recognition for the “good work” done in rural areas of the region despite “the threat of militancy and inhospitable terrain”.
A function, ‘MNREGA Sammelan’ was held in the country capital where Prime Minister Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave away awards to districts and gram panchayats for commendable work in various categories of rural job scheme.
None from Jammu and Kashmir won an award, the Press Trust of India reported.
“Many districts and gram panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir were performing very well in rural development but the work was largely going unnoticed,” State Rural Development, Minister Ali Mohammad SagarSagar told PTI immediately after Singh and Sonia left the venue.
He said that the members of the local bodies and officials are working very hard in many villages in the state to implement rural development programmes despite threats emanating from gun-wielding militants and rough terrain of the state.
Chairing the meeting, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh acknowledged the difficulties involved in implementation of rural development programme in Jammu and Kashmir and assured that the good work of the Gram Panchayats and districts will be duely recognised in the next meet.
Asked why districts and gram panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir did not receive any award, a Rural Development Ministry official said that the Ministry had sent circular to all states including Jammu and Kashmir seeking proposals for awards, but the state government failed to respond to it.
Awards were instituted in different categories including effective leadership and team work in IAP district, planning for water conservation, initiative in the challenging environment, effective mobilisation of labour, revival of traditional water management and equity in participation.
