SAMBA, JUNE 10: Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Ecology and Environment, Sheetal Nanda, Wednesday visited Chak Dulma and Chak Lala villages in Block Rajpura as part of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) Phase-II, underscoring the government’s commitment to holistic and inclusive rural development in border areas of the Union Territory.
During the visit, the Commissioner Secretary, as per an official statement, was briefed on the status of various projects being undertaken in the villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Among others present on the occasion were Additional District Development Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Company Commander BSF, district officers and villagers.
It was informed during the briefing that all 16 identified villages under the programme have been assigned Nodal Officers and gap analysis exercises have been duly completed with projects formally proposed for each village. In Chak Dulma, 11 projects have been proposed, while 9 projects have been put forward for Chak Lala, covering a range of developmental interventions to address the infrastructure and livelihood needs of the local population.
Local inhabitants of both the villages expressed their views on the proposed projects and placed their grievances before the senior officer, particularly pertaining to the agrarian economy and departmental functioning in the villages. Proposals for a playground and a veterinary hospital also figured prominently among the demands raised by the local residents.
The Commissioner Secretary listened attentively to the requests of the villagers and assured them of an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach to ensure that the villages are equipped with people-centric infrastructure, especially for the youth. This will facilitate affirmative action for building a productive and drug-free society in the border areas of Samba district.
