JAMMU: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, Science & Technology and ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma, today laid the foundation stone for a series of developmental works in Block Maira Mandrian, Akhnoor, reaffirming the Government’s commitment towards strengthening the public infrastructure and ensuring efficient service delivery at the grassroots level.
Among the major projects inaugurated was the upgradation and construction of the Godhan–Tuppa road under NABARD RIDF-XXXI (2025-26), a project aimed at improving the road connectivity, facilitating easier movement of people and goods besides enhancing access to essential services for residents of the area.
Following the foundation stone laying ceremony, the Minister presided over a public meeting at Godhan, where he interacted extensively with the local residents, public representatives and officers from various departments.
Senior district and sectoral officers attended the meeting to ensure on-the-spot redress of public grievances and to expedite solutions to issues raised by the people.
Addressing the gathering, Satish Sharma said that the government is committed to create robust public infrastructure that directly improves the quality of life of citizens. He emphasized that roads, public utilities, education, healthcare, sports facilities and digital infrastructure are the building blocks of inclusive and sustainable development.
The Minister said that governance must remain people-centric and responsive, adding that direct engagement with the citizens enables the administration to understand local priorities and deliver solutions in a time-bound manner. He reiterated that the government is focused on taking governance to the doorsteps of the people by strengthening grassroots institutions and ensuring greater public participation in the development process.
“Development is meaningful only when it reaches every village and every household. Our objective is not merely to create assets but to improve the everyday lives of people through better infrastructure, efficient public services and accountable governance,” the Minister said.
He stressed that continuous interaction between the administration and the public is essential for transparent governance and effective implementation of welfare programmes. He directed the concerned officers to remain accessible to the people, promptly address genuine grievances and ensure that developmental works are completed within stipulated timelines while maintaining quality standards.
Satish Sharma said that it is firm resolve of the present dispensation to accelerate the developmental initiatives across Jammu and Kashmir with special emphasis on rural connectivity, public amenities, youth development, technology-driven governance and improved service delivery. He said that every department must work in close coordination to fulfil the aspirations of the people and ensure that the benefits of development reach every corner of the region.
During the interaction, several public delegations and local residents projected demands related to roads, drinking water, electricity, education, healthcare and other civic amenities.
The Minister assured the people that all their genuine demands would be examined on priority and addressed in a phased and time-bound manner.
He assured the gathering that the government will continue to strengthen public infrastructure while making governance more transparent, participatory and citizen-oriented, ensuring that development remains inclusive and responsive to the needs of the people at the grassroots level.
