*Reviews functioning of JKRLM
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today directed the Forest Department to compulsorily undertake geo-tagging of all water bodies across Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate their protection, conservation, and scientific management.
He issued these directions while chairing a high-level meeting convened to review the progress of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign being implemented throughout the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF); Commissioner Secretary, Forests; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Secretary, School Education; Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and other senior officers. Deputy Commissioners of all districts participated through video conferencing.
The Chief Secretary underscored the need for seamless coordination between the Jal Shakti Department, Forest Department, and RDD to ensure comprehensive identification and geo-referencing of all water bodies both in forest and non-forest areas within the next month.
He stressed that this exercise is crucial to formulating future strategies for conservation and must be completed before the onset of snowfall in the winter zone areas.
Speaking on the occasion, ACS, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, highlighted that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan provides a robust platform to assess and accelerate progress in water conservation and management across the region.
He observed that the campaign is now transitioning from the planning phase to intensive, community-driven implementation, emphasizing that water security and sustainability form the core objectives of the initiative.
The ACS informed that 100% District Water Conservation Plans (DWCPs) have been prepared and uploaded for all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir on the JSA Portal. This achievement, he said, provides a scientific framework for effective and sustainable management of water resources across the UT.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review the functioning of the Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) and directed for effective convergence of the Mission with Mission YUVA, PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), and the Lal Ded Stree Shakti Scheme to maximize employment generation and ensure sustainable livelihood opportunities for women across rural areas of the UT.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Finance; Secretary, Rural Development Department; Managing Director, JKRLM, Subhra Sharma; and representatives from J&K Bank.
He directed the Mission to cover at least 5,000 women under the LalDedStree Shakti Loan Scheme during the current year and further enhance credit linkage for Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and Custom Hiring Centres being established under the Mission.
He also called for strengthening the capacity-building ecosystem by establishing community-managed training centres (CMTCs), identifying local resource persons, and fostering an environment of collective learning and participation.
Managing Director, JKRLM, Subhra Sharma, presented an overview of the Mission’s major achievements and initiatives aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting women’s economic independence.
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