Minister for Food Civil Supplies, Consumers Affairs and Information, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has said that there is urgent need to create mass awareness regarding the centrally sponsored schemes to enable the people to avail benefits of the same.  

The Minister was speaking on the final day of two day awareness campaign launched by the Directorate of Field Publicity, Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, at Irrigation ground Kotranka.

The Minister was the chief guest and Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri was the guest of honour at the valedictory event.

Deputy Director, Directorate of Field publicity & All India News Neha Jalali presided over the function.

The programme was aimed at spreading awareness among rural masses about various initiatives taken by central and state governments in last three years with the slogan “Saath Hai, Vishwas Hai, Ho Raha Vikas Hai”.

 The people were informed about Fasal Bhima Yojana, Ujjawala Yojana, Swacch Bharat Mission, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bhima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bhima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Start Up India etc.

 Speaking on the occasion, Zulfkar Ali appreciated the efforts of DFP, for organizing such awareness programme in far flung and remote areas and spreading awareness at the grassroots level about various centrally sponsored schemes. He said that a lot needs to be done to carry out the benefits of these flagship schemes to the needy and marginalized sections of the society.

Calling for a sustained campaign, the Minister said District administration should also organize such programmes in remote and interior areas and work at the administrative level to help the people reap benefits of all centrally sponsored schemes.

Highlighting the benefits of social security schemes, he said that more and more poor and marginalized people should be enrolled under  Pardhan Mantri Suraksha Bema Yojana , Pardhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana in order to make their lives secure.

Earlier, Deputy Director, Directorate of Field Publicity, Neha Jallali in her welcome address gave brief introduction of DFP and made people aware about its working and the aims & objectives of organizing such awareness programmes. She said that DFP J&K has been organizing such programmes in far flung and remote areas of the state adding that during the month of June 2017, it is going to convene similar Special Outreach Awareness Campaigns at Leh, Kargil, Ramban, Doda, Udhampur, Kathua and Poonch.

Meanwhile, resource persons and officers of concerned departments educated the masses about various schemes of their respective Departments. The departments which participated in today’s programme included Rural Development Department, ICDS, Agriculture department, Health Department, FCS & CA, J&K Bank, JKEDI, Govt. Hr. Sec. School Kotranka, police Department and PHE. About Six stalls were set up by these departments and J&K Bank for on the spot enrollment of the beneficiaries under various schemes.

 The People were given first hand information by providing publicity material and pamphlets about the formalities for availing benefits of various schemes. All the block level departments were coordinated under the guidance of Sub- Divisional Magistrate Gopal Singh.

About sixteen gas connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana were also distributed on the spot by Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali to the local BPL families of. Free medicines were also distributed among the needy during the campaign by Health department.

Guest