Development projects reviewed at meeting in Chamba

A meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) was convened at the district headquarters in Chamba to review the progress of various developmental projects and government schemes. The meeting, chaired by Lok Sabha MP Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj, included discussions on initiatives from departments such as Public Works, Jal Shakti, Rural Development, Education, Women and Child Development, Agriculture, and Horticulture. Prominent schemes such as MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and the National Health Mission were also reviewed in detail.

Dr Bhardwaj emphasided on the importance of timely completion of projects and urged committee members and public representatives to coordinate with officials to ensure that eligible beneficiaries at the grassroots level receive the intended benefits. He also directed officials to conduct awareness camps in rural and remote areas to improve outreach for government programmes.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal provided a comprehensive update on the progress of key schemes. Under MGNREGA, all 86,999 job cardholders who demanded work were provided employment, with 8,991 individuals completing 100 days of work. The scheme recorded an expenditure of Rs 221.03 crore during 2024-25 fiscal. Similarly, under the PM Awas Yojana (Rural), out of 7,602 sanctioned houses, 6,785 had been completed, while 817 were under construction. The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana had disbursed Rs 229.48 crore to district beneficiaries in 18 installments, while the PM Employment Generation Programme facilitated jobs for 644 individuals with an expenditure of Rs 5.39 crore. Additional discussions centered on the construction of the Chamba Medical College, the Pathankot-Bharmour National Highway, and the development of the pedestrian route for the holy Manimahesh Yatra. Dr Bhardwaj also underscored the importance of the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, under which 88 projects were sanctioned in the district, of which 38 had been completed, and 25 were in progress.

Dalhousie MLA DS Thakur and Bharmour MLA Dr Janak Raj raised concerns over health, education and public works in their respective constituencies, calling for expedited solutions to key issues.

Earlier in the day, Dr Bhardwaj flagged off a vehicle for the 100-day National TB Elimination Programme campaign. He also administered an oath to all officials and committee members to contribute to the fight against TB. Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal assured the MP that the directives issued during the meeting would be implemented effectively to ensure the successful execution of developmental projects and schemes in the district.