Shashanka Ala, Administrative Secretary for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, IT, and Disaster Management, chaired a review meeting with the Rural Development Department staff members at the Council Secretariat's Conference Hall in Kargil on December 26.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Director of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Ladakh, Syed Sajjad Qadri; Assistant Commissioner Development, Kargil, Razia Khatoon; Assistant Commissioner Development, Leh, A.G. Zargar (virtually); Block Development Officers (BDOs) from Kargil and Leh; Executive Engineers; Junior Engineers; Accounts Officers; Assistant Director of Planning; SPM/DPM, and other concerned officials.

Shashanka Ala began by asking all officials to introduce themselves, provide details about their postings, and give updates on the status of ongoing projects.

Director Syed Sajjad Qadri provided a comprehensive briefing to the Secretary, addressing key topics such as the department's structure, staff strength, manpower shortages, Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) status, and promotion issues. On the developmental front, he outlined the progress of major projects, financial constraints, Panchayat Raj institution funding, and challenges with schemes such as the Integrated Watershed Management Program, Swachh Bharat Mission, Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, MGNREGA, PMAY, and NRLMs.

Shashanka Ala instructed Engineers and BDOs to submit checklists for all newly constructed Common Facility Centers (CFCs), Panchayat Ghars, and BDO offices. She emphasized that the respective Junior Engineers should verify and sign these checklists. During her recent visits, she noted discrepancies in some areas and requested explanations from the concerned BDOs regarding non-functional blocks under the SWAN scheme.

She further directed all BDOs to develop micro-level plans tailored to the specific needs and priorities of each block for the effective implementation of government schemes. She highlighted that these schemes are designed to benefit the targeted beneficiaries and urged officials to ensure that Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are able to enjoy the rewards of their hard work. Ala stressed that every effort should result in tangible, meaningful outcomes.

Additionally, she called on officers to ensure that locally produced goods by SHGs gain broader market access, especially in cooperative supermarkets. She underscored the importance of branding and improved packaging to enhance the marketability of these products.

Administrative Secretary expressed her commitment to closely monitoring both ongoing and completed projects. She conveyed her confidence that with collective efforts, the department would achieve substantial results and maximize the benefits of government schemes for the people of Ladakh.