Jammu, Dec 02: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive review of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) being implemented by the department across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by DG Rural Sanitation Anu Malhotra; Mission Director NRLM Shubhra Sharma; Director RDD Jammu Shahnaz Akhter; Director Panchayati Raj Sham Lal; Director Finance Umar Khan; CEO IWMP Rajnish Kumar; COO Himayat Rajneesh Gupta; Joint Director Planning Kamal Kumar Sharma; and Additional Secretary RDD Waseem Raja.
The review focused on strengthening financial absorption, accelerating implementation, and ensuring strict adherence to timelines across key national programmes.
Secretary Asad reviewed progress under flagship schemes including MGNREGA, PMAY-G, SBM-G, NRLM, RGSA, and IWMP, with major emphasis on financial discipline and seamless fund flow.
He directed officers to improve fund utilization capacity, ensure timely submission of Utilization Certificates, and maintain regular coordination with the Government of India for the release of subsequent installments.
He called for strict compliance with the SNA SPARSH system, emphasizing transparent fund transfers through the Single Nodal Account and real-time updating of expenditure on all relevant portals to prevent future fund flow disruptions.
Regarding MGNREGA, Asad stressed strengthening job demand registration, expediting work completion, and ensuring timely wage payments.
For PMAY-G, he instructed officers to meet house construction targets within deadlines and to fast-track geo-tagging of assets, facilitating smooth fund releases.
In reviewing SBM-G, he urged intensified efforts to sustain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and improve solid and liquid waste management coverage.
For NRLM, he directed expansion of Self-Help Group activities and stronger credit linkages with banks.
He also emphasized faster execution of watershed development works, better convergence with MGNREGA, and prioritizing capacity-building programs for Panchayat representatives, ensuring timely use of training funds.
The meeting also included a pre-budget consultation, with Director Finance Umar Khan presenting the Revised Estimates 2025–26 and Budget Estimates 2026–27.
Asad directed that the upcoming budget should align with on-the-ground development needs, rely on realistic projections, and ensure efficient utilization of both revenue and capital funds. He underscored the importance of transparency, measurable outcomes, and strengthened financial discipline across all schemes.
He called for optimal use of UT Capex funds, instructing field officers to expedite ongoing works—especially those shifted from revenue to Capex—and ensure no spillover into the next financial year. He also emphasized monthly progress tracking of all Capex components to improve monitoring and outcomes.
