Jammu/ April, 17: Moving ahead to achieve the objective of providing smoke-less and environment friendly cooking facilities to those who are still relying on the traditional cooking system by using firewood or other such means, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat Wednesday provided free LPG connections to 24 deserving women beneficiaries of Panchayat Kangrail in Raipur-Domana constituency under the initiative of Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana (PMUY).
Speaking at a function that was organized at Panchayat Ghar Kangrail, the Minister said the BJP-PDP Government in Jammu and Kashmir is committed to uplift the poor, for which numerous welfare schemes have been launched. The PMUY is also one of such welfare initiatives launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to support the poor women by providing free gas connections to get rid from unhygienic traditional cooking means. This noble initiative is aimed at to empower the women folk which will help them in keeping the homes and localities smoke-free, which are otherwise the major source of numerous fatal ailments to the women folk, particularly in the rural and far-flung areas, said the Minister.
The Minister said Government will reach out to each poor family to extend the benefit of this ambitious program of Pradhan Mantri, Narendra Modi, which is aimed at to ensure safe and environment friendly cooking fuel to the poor families. It is endeavor of the Pradhan Mantri to provide as many as 5 crore LPG Gas connections to the BPL families across the country in the first instance and the State Government will step up its efforts to extend the benefits to the deserving lot, said the Minister.
On the occasion, the Sarpanch Kangrail, Capt. Kasturi Lal Sharma projected certain demands pertaining to the development of Panchayat Kangrail, which comprised up-gradation of High School to Higher Secondary, being huge catchment area, construction of road linking Industrial area, installation of hand pumps in vulnerable areas, construction of community hall etc.
Responding to the demands, the Minister announced a state-of-the-art community hall for the Panchayat to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh. He urged the Sarpanch to identify the suitable land for the purpose so that the work can be started at the earliest. He also assured immediate appropriate action on the other demands.
He said the Kangrail village has been taken up under Model Village program and all necessary infrastructural facilities will be developed in a phased manner, which will transform the profile of the area and its people. He called upon the people to maintain close liaison with the local administration to avail benefits of various welfare schemes of Central and State Governments. He also directed the officers to step up the awareness campaign to educate the masses about the government schemes.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Block Development Officer, Bhalwal, Neha Sharma, and local leaders, Omi Khajuria, Ved Prakash Sharma, S. Mohinder Singh, Charan Dass and Bansa Ram etc.
