POONCH, AUGUST 15: The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at District Headquarters, Poonch, where Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, hoisted the National Flag amid high patriotic fervour and enthusiasm.
He took salute at the impressive march past presented by the contingents of J&K Police, IRP, CRPF, Forest Protection Force, NCC cadets and school children at the main ceremonial function held at Sports Stadium Poonch.
MLA Surankote, Choudhary Mohammad Akram; Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma; Principal District and Sessions Judge Poonch, Sushil Singh, Additional District and Session Judge, Mir Wajahat, Chief Judicial Magistrate Poonch, Sarfraz Nawaz, Secretary DLSA Poonch, Rafaqat Hussain, Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch, Shafqat Hussain Bhat; senior officers of the civil administration, Police, Army, prominent citizens and a large gathering public were present on the occasion
Addressing the gathering, the Minister paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national leaders whose courage, sacrifice and vision secured the country’s freedom and laid the foundations of its democratic journey.
He said Independence Day is an occasion to remember the sacrifices of the past and reaffirm the collective resolve to uphold the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and national unity.
Highlighting Poonch’s glorious legacy of courage and resilience, Javed Rana said the people of the district have made an enduring contribution towards safeguarding national unity and strengthening the democratic ethos of the country.
The Minister said India has made remarkable strides since Independence in various fields, including education, employment, science and technology and called upon citizens to contribute actively towards building a stronger, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous nation.
Giving an overview of development achievements in the district, the Minister said Rs 6716.84 lakh were made available under the District Capex Budget during 2025-26, of which, Rs 5519.28 lakh (82.17 per cent) have been utilised.
He said focused attention is being accorded to strengthening the power infrastructure, with Rs 640.41 crore allocated for the sector, of which, Rs 528.59 crore have been spent and around 72 per cent of the work completed. The project is expected to add 37.5 MW capacity and benefit around 22,000 consumers. He also highlighted the ongoing widening and macadamisation of the 198-km Poonch-Akhnoor road, along with associated road improvement works.
Under the VB-G-RAM-G scheme, Rs 80 crore have been approved, with Rs 2.49 crore utilised between January and June, generating 83,124 person-days. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 49,079 of 49,254 targeted houses have been completed while 55,698 additional houses have been identified under the new survey.
Highlighting the government’s focus on water security, Javed Rana said 132 Jal Jeevan Mission schemes are under implementation in the district, with 18 completed and 42 nearing completion. He said 84,791 of 1,07,048 households have already been provided clean drinking water.
Under AMRUT 2.0, Rs 84.58 crore have been approved for improving the water supply system in Poonch town.
The Minister said the government remains committed to the welfare and empowerment of tribal communities and effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. He informed that FRA Cells have been established in Deputy Commissioner offices to facilitate recognition and settlement of the rights of forest-dwelling communities.
He further informed that proposals for new Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Mendhar and Surankote have been submitted to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The Minister said 520 km of roads have been taken up for widening, including 170 km under the road connectivity programme, while five NABARD schemes have been completed at a cost of Rs 1710.33 lakh.
Under the Agriculture Department, 77.02 lakh saplings have been distributed among the farmers, bringing more than 324 hectares under plantation. He said Rs 169 crore have been sanctioned for a 64-km road under the J&K Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. The Mandhi bypass is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by March 2027 while the Dharamrahi-Mandi link road has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 36 crore along with 43 additional village roads.
Under PM-KISAN, Rs 16.42 crore have been deposited for the benefit of 41,067 farmers.
Speaking about the social welfare measures, the Minister said assistance is being provided to 62,512 widows, elderly and differently-abled persons at Rs 1,000 per month. Financial assistance is also being extended to 890 children from poor families for their education.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, Rs 6 crore were utilised for 28 villages during the last financial year while Rs 566 lakh has been approved for 30 villages during the current year. He said free ration is being provided to 70,902 households covering 3,11,568 persons under the Pradhan Mantri Anna Kalyan Yojana.
The Minister also highlighted the district’s achievements in sports, informing that 115 children participated in national-level competitions during the year with four securing medals. He said 1,419 Anganwadi centres are functioning across the district, providing supplementary nutrition to children.
Referring to the damage caused by recent heavy rains, Minister Rana said 22 people have lost their lives and 366 houses have been damaged while restoration of five motorable roads is underway.
He assured that all possible assistance would be extended to the affected people and said restoration of damaged roads, bridges, drinking-water schemes and electricity infrastructure has been taken up on priority.
Reiterating the commitment of the Omar Abdullah-led Government towards inclusive and sustainable development, Javed Rana stressed that development must go hand in hand with environmental conservation, protection of forests and biodiversity, sustainable management of natural resources and empowerment of tribal communities.
He called upon the youth to become active partners in nation-building through education, skill development, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Minister also appreciated the role of the media in keeping the public informed about Government initiatives and public issues. He assured that the police and district administration are working in close coordination to maintain peace and strengthen the law-and-order situation.
“Let us renew our pledge to build a stronger, inclusive and prosperous India and ensure that the benefits of development reach every section of society,” he said.
The Minister also felicitated the officers, officials and individuals for their exemplary services and contributions in their respective fields.
