Shadow Correspondent
Bandipora, JUNE 20:
Director Skill Development Department and Prabhari Officer for Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) for the villages of Purana Tulail and Neeru in Block Tulail, Dr. Owais Ahmed, today undertook an extensive visit to the two border villages to review the implementation of developmental initiatives under the Vibrant Village Programme and assess the progress of various government schemes being executed in the area.
The visit was accompanied by officers from various line departments, including Rural Development, Education, Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Public Health Engineering, Power Development Department, Social Welfare, and other stakeholder departments.
During the visit, Dr. Owais Ahmed held detailed interactions with residents, community representatives, former Panchayat representatives, youth, women, and local stakeholders at Government Higher Secondary School Purana Tulail and later at Government Middle School Neeru.
The meetings provided a platform for the local population to highlight their developmental needs, aspirations, and concerns relating to infrastructure, public services, livelihood generation, education, healthcare, connectivity, drinking water supply, skill development, tourism potential, and welfare schemes.
Addressing the gatherings, Dr. Owais Ahmed emphasized that the Vibrant Village Programme envisions the comprehensive and sustainable development of remote border villages, transforming them into vibrant centres of economic activity, social progress, and improved quality of life. He underscored the importance of ensuring convergence among different government departments to deliver tangible benefits to the people and bridge developmental gaps in far-flung areas.
The Prabhari Officer stressed that the programme is not merely focused on infrastructure creation but also aims at strengthening livelihoods, promoting local entrepreneurship, enhancing access to essential services, and creating opportunities for youth and women. He assured the residents that all genuine issues raised during the interactions would be taken up with the concerned departments for timely resolution.
During the course of his visit, Dr. Owais Ahmed also visited Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Gurez, where he conducted a comprehensive review of the institute’s functioning and infrastructure. He inspected the available facilities, assessed the status of skill development programmes being offered, and interacted with students and faculty members. He encouraged the trainees to make optimum use of the opportunities available under various skill development initiatives and emphasized the importance of vocational education in enhancing employability and self-reliance among youth.
At Middle School Neeru, the Director also interacted with students and teaching staff, inquiring about their academic activities, learning environment, and educational aspirations. He motivated the students to pursue their studies with dedication and avail the benefits of various educational and skill development programmes being implemented by the Government.
Dr. Owais Ahmed also reviewed the status of ongoing and proposed developmental works under various schemes and sought department-wise updates from the officers present. He directed the field functionaries to maintain close coordination, ensure effective implementation of approved projects, and prepare realistic action plans based on the specific requirements of the villages.
The officers from different departments apprised the Prabhari Officer about the developmental interventions undertaken in the villages and informed the gathering about various beneficiary-oriented schemes available for local residents. They also responded to queries raised by the participants and explained the modalities for availing benefits under different government programmes.
The local residents appreciated the initiative of conducting on-the-spot consultations and expressed hope that the Vibrant Village Programme would accelerate the pace of development in the region. They highlighted several priority issues and developmental requirements, seeking continued administrative support for the socio-economic advancement of the villages.
The visit forms part of the ongoing efforts of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to ensure participatory planning and effective implementation of the Vibrant Village Programme in strategically important border areas. The programme seeks to create robust infrastructure, strengthen service delivery, generate sustainable livelihood opportunities, and improve the overall living standards of residents in remote frontier villages.
The proceedings concluded with a reaffirmation of the administration’s commitment to making Purana Tulail and Neeru, model vibrant villages through coordinated developmental interventions and active community participation.
