SRINAGAR: During her tour of Bandipora district on Wednesday, Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, distributed 27 retrofitted motorised tricycles to eligible persons with disabilities under the Department of Social Welfare. She also disbursed sponsorship benefits worth Rs 1.23 crores among beneficiaries under Mission Vatsalya.
The Minister, accompanied by MLA Bandipora Nizam Uddin Bhat, DDC Vice-Chairperson Kousar Shafeeq and Deputy Commissioner Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, chaired a high-level review meeting with departmental heads and officers to assess the district’s developmental progress.
Addressing the meeting, Sakeena Itoo emphasised timely implementation of government schemes and directed officials to ensure swift delivery of services. She encouraged inter-departmental coordination to resolve developmental bottlenecks and lauded the efforts of the administration in welfare initiatives.
Key issues discussed included the Bandipora–Sumbal and Bandipora–Sopore road widening projects, the non-functional lift at the District Hospital, and staffing shortages in the Health and Education sectors. The Minister assured government support in expediting critical infrastructure.
She also laid the e-foundation for a Lift Irrigation Scheme to augment water supplies to New Reshi Khul and Dehgam Khul and virtually inaugurated the Composite School at N.M. HSS Kaloosa, Bandipora.
Earlier, the Minister visited Government Degree College (GDC) Bandipora, where she inspected infrastructure and reviewed ongoing developmental works. Welcomed by Principal Dr Gazala Firdous, the Minister appreciated the college’s progress but noted poor access roads and urged immediate beautification and infrastructure upgrades.
MLA Nizam Uddin Bhat stressed the need for a separate library block, auditorium, and a developed playfield to improve academic facilities. The Minister responded by directing the Director of Higher Education to initiate library block construction and assured timely upgrades.
During an interactive session with students, issues such as transport difficulties and faculty shortages were raised. The Minister promised prompt resolution, including the provision of additional vehicles and swift faculty replacement.
The Minister later held a public darbar, interacting with residents and assuring them of timely redressal of their grievances.
