Chandigarh, January 18 - Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal urged the officers to check and review various developmental projects/works posted on the Jan Samvad portal every day. They should also take prompt action to ensure the timely completion of these projects by setting specific targets. He highlighted that extensive planning of development initiatives by officials would significantly benefit the people of the state. The state government is committed to addressing and resolving all the demands and grievances voiced by citizens during the Jan Samvad program.
Sh. Manohar Lal was presiding over a meeting to review the progress of various development works and schemes of the Development and Panchayat Department here today. Development and Panchayats Minister, Sh. Devender Singh Babli was also present on this occasion.
During the meeting to review the department's development initiatives, Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal highlighted the earlier approach of addressing demands for development works on an arbitrary basis. Recognizing this, the current state government initiated the Jan Samvad program in April of the previous year. The program serves to systematically register and prioritize demands received from the public, ensuring a more organized and responsive approach to implementation. As of now, approximately 70,000 demands and grievances related to development works have been documented on the Jan Samvad portal. He informed that all demands received during the ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Jan Samvad programs will also be uploaded to the portal. Subsequently, relevant departments will work diligently to expedite the implementation of these works on a priority basis. The Development and Panchayats Department holds a crucial role in this concerted effort, he added.
While emphasizing the effectiveness of the Jan Samvad Portal, Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal said that it allows real-time access from Chandigarh to understand the specific demands of each area and identify pending works. This transparency enables the government to prioritize and expedite the completion of projects efficiently. He further assured that there is no scarcity of funds for rural development initiatives, expressing the readiness to increase the budget if necessary to ensure the timely execution of these works.
University students will make estimates, development works will gain momentum
The Chief Minister said that the state government will proactively involve university students, particularly those studying engineering, in expediting small-scale developmental projects in rural areas. The government will engage these students systematically in the preparation of rough estimates for minor development works in villages, such as street construction and repair/maintenance, Shivdham repairs, and similar projects. This initiative aims to expedite the implementation of development projects in response to demands received through Jan Samvad. However, all such works will be finalized only by the officials of the concerned department.
During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Development and Panchayats Department, Sh Anil Malik apprised the Chief Minister on the progress of the initiative and added that discussions regarding the engagement of university students had already taken place with the Vice Chancellors of three universities and the Haryana State Education Council. The Development and Panchayat Department has collaborated with the appointed officers from the universities, and a comprehensive two-day training program is scheduled for all such students. This will also a better internship program for university students, providing them with valuable practical experience.
During the meeting, Chief Minister also conducted a comprehensive review of the utilization of grants from both the State Finance Commission and the Central Finance Commission. The Chief Minister also assessed the progress of development works in various entities, including Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayat, and Panchayat Samiti, as well as projects related to Amrit Sarovar and Amrit Plus Sarovar. Subsequently, he provided necessary instructions to the officials. In addition, discussions were held regarding the mapping of development projects to ensure effective planning and execution.
Additional Chief Secretary of Development and Panchayats Department Sh Anil Malik, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Director General of Development and Panchayat Department Sh DK Behera, Director Rural Development Dr JK Abhir, Chief Executive Officers, Zilla Parishad and District Development and Panchayat Officers from all the districts of the state were also present.