Jagat Singh Negi holds block-level grievance redressal meeting in Pooh block

Revenue, Horticulture, Tribal Development, and Public Grievance Redressal Minister Jagat Singh Negi presided over a block-level grievance redressal meeting yesterday at the conference hall of the Mini Secretariat in Pooh, Kinnaur district.

The meeting focused on issues such as electricity supply, clean drinking water, road connectivity, vacant posts in Primary Health Centres, sewage management and pending developmental projects. After thorough discussions, the departments concerned were provided with appropriate directions. Negi emphasised accelerating the state’s developmental activities to ensure that eligible beneficiaries received the benefits of government schemes.

He directed officials to address sewage problems in the Spilo gram panchayat, urged transparency in MGNREGA works, and assured the filling of vacant positions in PHCs within the Pooh development block to provide relief to the people. Additionally, the minister promised to address vacant posts at the civil hospital in Chango and directed the Public Works Department to maintain quality in their ongoing projects to strengthen the infrastructure in the tribal district of Kinnaur.

Detailed discussions were held on solar lighting and the Forest Rights Act of 2006, with instructions to provide ownership rights to marginalised sections, ensuring they benefit from the state government’s schemes.

Pooh Additional District Magistrate Vinay Modi conducted the meeting and presented a detailed report on developmental activities.

Subsequently, Negi chaired a meeting under the 20-Point Programme Committee. In his address, he highlighted that the programme had been playing a crucial role in poverty eradication and improving the living standards of marginalised sections in the state. This programme encompasses various aspects like food security, employment generation, agricultural productivity, environmental protection and the empowerment of women and vulnerable groups.

The Horticulture Minister said the state government had launched new initiatives under the programme, which included the establishment of rural sales centres in collaboration with panchayats and social security for agricultural and unorganised laborers. He urged officials to ensure that welfare schemes implemented by their departments reached every individual without delay.

Negi also discussed the issue of illegal dumping by hydropower projects in the Pooh development block, directing officials of the Forest and Revenue departments to take appropriate action within a set timeframe.

Negi assured attendees that the issues raised — including water storage tanks, animal dispensaries, low-voltage problems, construction of rain shelters, solar lighting, waste management, library construction, ambulance roads and vacant teaching positions — would be addressed with sensitivity. He instructed officials to resolve these demands systematically.

Attendees included Pooh Block Congress president Prem Negi, DSP Naveen Jalta, Chief Medical Officer Dr Sonam Negi, Executive Engineer (Electricity) Tashi Negi, District Ayurvedic Officer Indu Sharma, District Agriculture Officer OP Bansal, Himachal Road Transport Corporation Regional Manager Piyush Sharma, non-government members, and officials from various departments.