Baramulla January 28: The Union Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Labour and Employment, Government of India, Shobha Karandlaje, today chaired a meeting at the Dak Bunglow Baramulla to review the progress of the district under various indicators of NITI Ayog’s Aspirational District Programme (ADP).
The meeting was attended by the Member Legislative Assembly Baramulla, Javed Hassan Beig, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, officers from the Ministry of MSME, Labour and Employment, and all the officers from the concerned departments.
At the outset, the DC Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, presented a comprehensive overview of the district’s performance under 5 key indicators of the ADP, including Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development, and Infrastructure.
The Chair was informed that the district has made remarkable progress in its Delta Ranking, issued by NITI Aayog, and has improved significantly, moving from the 108th position to 46th out of 112 districts, achieving a composite score of 59.3 as of September 2024.
DC Baramulla highlighted significant improvements in health and nutrition, including the upgradation of existing facilities and establishment of new health centres, maternal and child healthcare, reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates, reduction in TB cases, and effective implementation Poshan Abhiyan in combating malnutrition.
The chair was informed that the education sector in Baramulla has witnessed wholesome progress, with a substantial increase in student enrolment, especially among girls; a significant decrease in the dropout rate, with efforts to improve the quality of education through skill upgradation for teachers, upgrading school infrastructure, and promoting digital learning with the implementation of smart classrooms.
Meanwhile, Javed Beigh also raised several concerns related to water scarcity and other developmental challenges in the region and sought the intervention of the Hon’ble MoS for their timely resolution.
The MoS further took a comprehensive review of the district under Agriculture and Financial Inclusion and Skill Development and Infrastructure and expressed her appreciation for the progress made by Baramulla and emphasized the critical role it will play in fostering inclusive economic development.
Speaking during the meeting, the MoS for MMSME directed the officers from the Health Department to conduct comprehensive research to identify the underlying causes of infant and maternal mortality in the district and implement targeted interventions to ensure further reductions in mortality rates, thereby improving overall healthcare outcomes.
The MoS instructed the administration to plan for the implementation of food processing units in the region through various government schemes to ensure the efficient utilization of locally produced apples and prevent any wastage during transportation over long distances, thereby boosting the local economy and benefiting farmers.
Meanwhile, Ms. Karandlaje lauded the efforts of the district administration and urged officials to accelerate the execution of developmental projects, particularly those that support MSMEs, employment generation, and livelihood enhancement, and reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to holistic development in Aspirational Districts through data-driven governance and targeted interventions.
During the meeting, the MoS distributed various essential resources including computers, smart boards, and other amenities to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and schools, aimed at enhancing their overall functionality for the betterment of the community.During the visit to Baramulla, Ms. Karandlaje inaugurated a hi-tech polygreenhouse with a total area spanning 500 square meters at Chakloo, which was sanctioned to the local farmer Dr. Mudasir Ali through HADP scheme at an estimated subsidy of 95%.
Later, The Minister, accompanied by DC Baramulla,Minga Sherpa,visited Government Medical College Baramulla,where she inaugurated the Endo-Urological Equipment at the Associated Hospital as part of the Aspirational District Programme. The newly introduced equipment will support advanced urological procedures, enhancing healthcare options for patients in the region. The Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed Medical Registration Department (MRD) Registration Centre at GMC Baramulla, aimed at streamlining the patient registration process. The event was attended by the Principal GMC,(Prof) Dr.Majid Jehangir and Medical Superintendent of GMC Baramulla, Dr Parvaiz Masoodi.During her visit, the Hon’ble Minister interacted with attendants and gathered valuable feedback on the healthcare facilities being provided to the patients.
