Reaching out with information about various centrally sponsored socio- economic developmental programmes and schemes, at the doorsteps of the under-privileged, poor rural populace, particularly in far flung and inaccessible areas is the hallmark of the Public Information Campaigns organised by Press Information Bureau throughout country. The aim of such campaigns is to ensure that the common uninformed rural people are informed about the basic provisions, allocations and expenditure details of various flagship and Bharat Nirman rural development programmes and schemes. The campaign provides an opportunity to common people not only to know about the latest in planning and policy making related to socio-economic development but also helps the implementing agencies to reach out to the grass root targets through information, education and communication mode.
Flagship & Bharat Nirman programmes are meant for poverty alleviation through generation of wage employment, building rural infrastructure, providing basic healthcare, meeting literacy targets besides providing education, sanitation, road connectivity, water supply, irrigation, electrification, housing and telecommunication facilities.  The Campaign covers flagship programmes of the Central Govt. which includes Bharat Nirman (Rural Roads, Housing, Water Supply, Irrigation, Electrification & Telephony), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Mid-day Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), PM’s New 15 Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities & RTI Act.

18 PICs In J&K
With the first PIC at Kishtwar, PIB has so far organized 18 PICs including that of Rajouri during current financial year in J&K. Other districts and areas where PICs have been organised includes Reasi, RS Pora, Leh, Budgam, Poonch, Udhampur, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Kargil, Bani, Bandipora, Kathua, Ramban, Anantnag, Doda and Samba.

Inaugural Day (February 19, 2011)
Rajouri is a border district and about 450 Kms away from Srinagar. It borders Pakistan and is also notable for the presence of many Gujjar and Bakerwal villages, particularly towards the Pir Panjal mountain range.
Shri Madan Lal Sharma, Member Parliament and Shri Shabir Ahmed Khan, MoS Power, Forests, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution inaugurated the 18th Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign at Dak Bungalow, Rajouri on February 19.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Madan Lal Sharma said that this type of campaigns disseminate information about the centrally sponsored flagship and Bharat Nirman rural development schemes at the grass roots level. He said that Rs 250 Crores have been spent in Rajouri district under MGNREGA and the district stands on top in terms of its implementation in the whole State.
Shri Shabir Ahmed Khan said that PMGSY and other schemes are going on in full swing in Rajouri district resulting into more flow of money in the district. He said to mitigate sufferings and difficulties of people district and officers at grass root level must put in more efforts for the welfare of common masses.
Vice Chairman, OBC Advisory Board, J&K Shri Kuldeep Verma complimented UPA Chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for taking the initiatives like PICs to reach out to the common masses.
Shri Ghulam Ahmed Khawaja, District Development Commissioner, Rajouri spoke about development profile of the district.

District Development Profile Publication
The Chief Guest & Guest of Honour released PIB Srinagar publication “District Development Profile—A Brief Account of Flagship Programmes, Bharat Nirman in Rajouri”.

School Children Rally
 A School Children Rally was flagged off by DDC Shri Ghulam Ahmad Khwaja and Chief Education Officer Shri Gurcharan Singh from Old Bus Stand, on February 20 morning. About 800 school children from all education zones of district Rajouri participated in the rally which after passing through main bazaars and streets covering about two and a half Kms, culminated at DAK Bungalow Rajouri. The children were carrying placards and banners highlighting themes of education, literacy, and other issues of public interest.

Chief Guest’s Speech
The J&K Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment Shri Abdul Gani Malik was the chief guest on the second day of the campaign. In his speech Shri Malik called for the need to tap the human potential among all sections of people and expressed hope that Jammu & Kashmir will cross the national average very soon. He said there are good results of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the State.
Hailing the initiative of Press Information Bureau Srinagar for organising PIC in Rajouri, the Minister said that every hamlet should be brought under PMGSY road connectivity network. He urged ICDS and Health workers to take effective measures for controlling the infant mortality rate through facilities at Anganwari and Health Centres. The Minister also stressed the need to channelise the potential of tourism and handicraft sectors in Rajouri.

Valedictory Function
The Campaign concluded on February 21. J&K Minister for Forests & Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad was the Chief Guest on the valedictory function. Former MP Mirza Abdul Rashid was also present on the occasion. In his speech Shri Altaf Ahmad urged people to come forward with the feedback about the implementation status of the centrally sponsored schemes for effective monitoring and transparency. He said PIC must serve as a platform for feedback about utilization of allocated funds under various schemes. 

 Lectures On Flagship Themes
 Shri Mohammad Farooq Mir, Community Health Officer, Rajouri spoke on “National Rural Health Mission in Rajouri”; Shri Kuldeep Machama, SDO BSNL Rajouri delivered lecture on “Rural Telephony in Rajouri”; Shri Chand Narayan from ICDS Rajouri spoke about “ICDS Activities in Rajouri”. AEE PMGSY Shri Mohammad Zubair delivered lecture on “Achievements under PMGSY in Rajouri” while Dr Danish Iqbal Raina from BGSBU School of Management spoke about “Courses offered by Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University”. Dr Musheer Ahmad Mirza, General Manager DIC Rajouri talked about “Industries in Rajouri”. Shri Mohammad Maqbool Naik, Technical Officer M&R Electric Division Rajouri delivered lecture on “Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY) in Rajouri”. Shri Hemakant Sharma, District Coordinator, SSA Rajouri delivered lecture on “Achievements under SSA & Midday Meal Scheme in Rajouri”.

 Memento & Certificate Distribution Ceremony
 Mian Altaf Ahmad presented mementoes and participation certificates on behalf of PIB Srinagar to all the participating departments and agencies which included Government Departments, NGOs, etc who had put up their stalls besides Press and Electronic Media Personnel, Radio & DDK.
Prizes on behalf of DFP Jammu were also awarded to all those who had participated in pre-PIC programmes of Kathua and Rajouri units of Directorate of Field Publicity.

Peoples’ Participation
Thousands of people from far flung areas of Rajouri participated in the three day campaign during which PIB, DFP, DAVP and State departments, PSUs, NGOs etc distributed information matter, brochures and other material on flagship, Bharat Nirman & other developmental schemes.
About 40 State, Central govt departments, PSUs, NGOs put up their stalls at the venue.

Participation of Song & Drama Division, School Children
The Song & Drama Division participated in the Campaign at Rajouri. The Chaman Lal Mattoo & Party deputed by S&DD presented a series of music and dance programmes highlighting Bharat Nirman themes during three day programme at the venue. Hundreds of school children from various education zones of Rajouri were also engaged for presentation of cultural items based on relevant themes.

DAVP Exhibition
Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity, Jammu had put up photo exhibition showcasing flagship, Bharat Nirman rural development programmes and schemes with latest photographs supported by highlights and achievements of these programmes in English, Urdu & Hindi languages.

Pre Publicity Activities
The Kathua and Rajouri units of Directorate of Field Publicity, Jammu organised a series of awareness programmes in and around Rajouri as part of pre-publicity campaign for PIC.
Shri Obaid-ur-Rahman, Director, Directorate of Field Publicity, J&K Circle, Jammu  delivered welcome address while Shri Ghulam Abbas, Asstt. Director PIB Srinagar presented introductory speech and vote of thanks, during all the days of campaign.
Shri Tariq A. Rather, Media & Communication Officer, PIB, Srinagar conducted proceedings of the three day campaign.

  (Tariq A. Rather, IIS, is Media & Communication Officer, PIB, Srinagar)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST