Accommodate public sentiments, voices of elected representatives: MP Khatana

Jammu, Sep 14: Rajya Sabha Member, Gulam Ali Khatana on Thursday stressed the significance of engaging with the public and their elected representatives, which includes members of Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Emphasising the importance of empathetic public engagement, he firmly advocated for welcoming public sentiment and demands, regardless of their practicality,
The MP was chairing a meeting to review the centrally-sponsored schemes, which was attended by various sectoral officers. The meeting was aimed at assessing various facets of development in the district during which the MP repeatedly stressed the need for engaging with the public and their elected representatives. It covered a wide range of developmental activities of departments, including transportation, forest rights, afforestation, animal husbandry schemes and agricultural initiatives like PM Kissan, Kisan Card and Soil Health Card.
Recognising the importance of empowering the youth and enhancing their employability, MP Khatana called for encouraging practical vocational training programs. Another prominent topic of discussion was the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Khatana underscored the importance of this scheme, emphasising that its benefits must reach the public in twofold.
The meeting included a discussion on the New Education Policy and its benefits, reflecting the MP’s commitment to enhancing the educational landscape in the district, and aligning it with national policies for educational reform. Ensuring access to clean drinking water to every home is a top priority for the government, he said.
The MP showed concern for healthcare in the district, focusing on schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Janani Suraksha Yojana. He highlighted the need to provide specialist care in remote health facilities through effective management of staff.
In his discussions with officers, Khatana addressed essential matters related to sanitation, waste management and the need for a waste collection and processing facility in the district. He reviewed progress on the Jammu Smart City initiative, encompassing projects such as beautification, mobility enhancements and the introduction of electric buses.
Furthermore, the MP delved into mining-related issues, focusing on ensuring that people can access building materials at reasonable rates while preventing illegal mining practices. The meeting touched upon critical topics like the delivery of rights under the Forest Rights Act to eligible individuals, raising awareness about forests and their value and initiating afforestation measures.
Additionally, issues pertaining to road infrastructure, highway development, social welfare activities and the performance of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme run by the Industries Department were reviewed.