Ambala: MPs Varun Chaudhry, Kartikeya Sharma ask officials to speed up welfare projects

Ambala MP Varun Chaudhry and Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma on today reviewed the progress of various Central and state welfare schemes and development projects at a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) held at the Panchayat Bhawan in Ambala City.

Presiding over the meeting, MP Varun Chaudhry directed officials to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach genuine beneficiaries on time. Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma, who co-chaired the session, instructed departments to expedite work and maintain quality and transparency in project execution.

As many as 83 agenda items were discussed during the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Ajay Singh Tomer, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Virender Lather, Mayor Shailja Sachdeva, Naraingarh MLA Shalley Chaudhary and senior officials of various departments.

The MPs reviewed progress under major welfare programmes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Awas Yojana, Fasal Bima Yojana, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao and the Ayushman Bharat scheme. They also sought updates on directions issued in earlier meetings.

To ensure greater transparency, the MPs instructed the district administration to upload complete details of schemes and projects on the official website so that the general public can easily access information. Officials were also directed to conduct field inspections to assess work quality and hold regular review meetings to prevent delays.

Emphasising public sensitivity and accountability, Varun Chaudhry said, “Along with the agendas listed for the meeting, officials were also given specific instructions regarding cleanliness. Directions have been issued regarding proper seating arrangements and cleanliness at the State Library in Ambala Cantonment.”

He said, “Officials have been asked to replace all old drinking water pipes to prevent waterborne diseases. Instructions were also given for installing another air quality monitoring system under the National Clean Air Programme and preventing water wastage under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The primary objective of the DISHA meeting is to ensure that the benefits of all central government schemes reach eligible individuals in a timely manner.”

Kartikeya Sharma said the committee had taken note of lapses in implementation. “Directions have been issued to expedite work while ensuring quality and transparency. The committee has issued show-cause notices to officials absent from the meeting and sought their explanations,” he said.

He added that the Health Department had been instructed to organise regular awareness camps on anaemia and the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, with special focus on villages showing a low sex ratio.