RAMBAN, JUNE 22: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar, Monday reviewed the progress of development works besides assessing implementation of flagship schemes in Ramban during his whirlwind tour to the district.
He also e-inaugurated several projects and conducted extensive field visits to assess the development initiatives on the ground.
MLA Ramban, Arjun Singh Raju; MLA Banihal, Sajjad Shaheen; Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohammad Alyas Khan; Directors of Agriculture Jammu; Animal Husbandry Jammu; Horticulture Jammu; Fisheries Department; Registrar Cooperatives J&K; senior officers of Sheep Husbandry Department and other district officers were present.
Addressing the officers, the Minister, as per an official statement, stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination with public representatives while identifying and finalizing the developmental works. He directed the officers to expedite the execution of ongoing projects and ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the grassroots level in a time-bound manner. He also called for enhanced public outreach and awareness programmes to maximize beneficiary coverage under various welfare initiatives.
The Minister remarked that with the operationalization of key tunnel projects and the continuous improvement of the National Highway corridor, travel time is being reduced significantly while ensuring all-weather connectivity. He said these transformative projects will not only strengthen the regional connectivity but also open up new avenues for trade, horticulture, agriculture and employment generation in the district.
The Minister also e-inaugurated various developmental projects completed by different departments and reviewed their impact on service delivery and public welfare.
Earlier, Javid Ahmad Dar inaugurated the Cooperative Super Bazaar Ramban and visited the Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development, Govindpora. He inspected the functioning of the centre and reviewed the initiatives aimed at promoting horticultural development and farmer welfare.
Later, the Minister laid the foundation stone for the Shah-i-Asrar Memorial School Building at Kashkoot.
Addressing the gathering, he appreciated the efforts of Advocate Raja Salim in establishing the institution and described the initiative as a significant contribution towards educational advancement and social upliftment in the region.
As part of his extensive tour, the Minister visited the Veterinary Hospital Banihal, Sheep Husbandry Office, Seed Farm, Agriculture Farm Tethar and Sheep Farm Zaban. He reviewed the functioning of these institutions and assessed the status of ongoing developmental and extension activities. He directed the concerned officers to further strengthen the farmer-centric services, improve livestock healthcare facilities and ensure timely availability of quality inputs to the farming community.
Speaking on the occasion, Javid Ahmad Dar said that Ramban district is witnessing a new era of development and connectivity, driven by unprecedented investments in infrastructure, road networks and public welfare programmes. He observed that major highway upgrades and strategic tunnel projects are transforming Ramban into an important gateway district, boosting the economic opportunities, tourism potential and ease of transportation for the local residents.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner presented a comprehensive overview of developmental achievements and the status of ongoing projects across various sectors. He informed that under MGNREGA, the district has 36,550 active job cards during the financial year 2025-26 while 2,382 works have been physically completed. Besides, Aadhaar seeding has reached 99.78 percent completion and timely wage payment stands at 70 percent.
He apprised that 3,758 works had been approved under MGNREGA during 2025-26 while 3,564 works have already been approved for 2026-27. Under PMAY-G, 503 houses have been completed while the survey conducted under PMAY-G 2.0 has identified 25,530 prospective beneficiaries.
Regarding the achievements under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), the Deputy Commissioner stated that 1,505 works have been completed under different components of the mission, significantly improving the sanitation infrastructure in rural areas.
Highlighting the performance of the agriculture sector, he informed that substantial progress has been registered in crop production, particularly in oilseeds with production touching 15,687 quintals. He added that farmers and rural youth are actively benefiting from schemes such as Soil Health Cards, Kisan Credit Cards (KCC), PM-KISAN and Kisan Khidmat Ghar (KKG), which are contributing towards enhanced agricultural productivity and income generation.
The Deputy Commissioner also briefed the Minister regarding the arrangements put in place for the smooth and successful conduct of the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026.
During the meeting, the legislators from Ramban and Banihal highlighted several developmental requirements and public issues pertaining to their respective constituencies and sought timely redress of the same.
