Srinagar, May 1: In a high-level review meeting held at the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Commissioner Dr. Owais Ahmed Thursday took stock of the ongoing progress in revenue realisation and implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0. The meeting witnessed the participation of senior officials from various wings of the Corporation, including the Revenue and Planning.
The Commissioner issued clear directions to expedite the pace of revenue mobilisation across all wards of the city. Ward-wise revenue targets were allocated to concerned officers, with instructions to intensify field-level efforts to meet the financial goals set for the current financial year. Dr. Owais stressed the importance of strengthening revenue collection systems, improving documentation and ensuring accountability at every level.
“Revenue realisation forms the backbone of our municipal functioning. Timely and efficient collection enables us to better deliver civic services to the people. All wards must now work on a mission mode to achieve their respective targets,” he said. Turning his focus to the PMAY(U) 2.0 scheme, the Commissioner expressed concern over the slow pace of application processing and approvals. He directed concerned officials to clear all pending cases without delay, ensuring that the benefits of the central housing scheme reach deserving beneficiaries, especially the economically weaker sections (EWS) and low-income groups (LIG) in Srinagar city.
To ensure wider participation and public awareness of the PMAY(U) scheme, Dr. Owais emphasised the need for comprehensive capacity building among the common masses, with a special focus on digital empowerment. He called for the organisation of ward-level awareness camps, online registration drives, and facilitation desks at the ward offices to help citizens understand the eligibility criteria and online application process under PMAY(U).
“In the digital age, it is imperative that we empower our citizens with the knowledge and tools required to access government welfare schemes. Special training sessions and awareness drives must be launched immediately,” the Commissioner said. Commissioner also directed the SMC Social Media Cell to create simple, multilingual user guides and videos explaining the online application procedure and to collaborate with local NGOs and ward committees to disseminate information at the grassroots level. The meeting concluded with the Commissioner reiterating his commitment in ensuring transparent governance, timely implementation of public welfare schemes, and inclusive urban development. He urged all stakeholders to work with dedication and coordination to fulfil the vision of affordable housing for all and to strengthen the financial backbone of the Corporation through robust revenue realisation.
