Sakeena Itoo Chairs Developmental Review Meeting of District Srinagar
SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, yesterday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of district Srinagar to assess ongoing development projects and welfare initiatives.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarakh Gul, Shamim Firdous, Salman Ali Sagar, Tanvir Sadiq, Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo, and Sheikh Ahsan Pardesi; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; Commissioner SMC; Director SKIMS; HoDs and directors of various line departments; and senior district administration officials.
During the session, Minister Itoo evaluated departmental performance and progress on flagship schemes such as Mission Yuva, HADP, PM Surya Ghar, and the National TB Elimination Programme. She also reviewed physical and financial progress under district CAPEX, MPLADs, CDF, SASCI, AMRUT 2.0, and other initiatives.
Focusing on healthcare, rural development, road connectivity, education, and drinking water facilities, the Minister directed timely completion of projects and emphasized a result-oriented approach to addressing public grievances. She reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure and improving emergency care. A directive was issued to upgrade roads leading to major hospitals like SKIMS, SMHS, Bone & Joint, and Lal Ded, along with a coordinated plan with traffic authorities to decongest access to these critical healthcare centers.
Minister Itoo stressed that all new initiatives must be undertaken in consultation with local MLAs, underlining their role as the bedrock of a developed society. She instructed officers to ensure pending cases under any scheme are resolved promptly and applicants are informed of deficiencies to enable timely benefit uptake. Awareness camps on government schemes, in collaboration with MLAs, were also recommended to maximize outreach.
On urban development, the Minister directed officers to enhance sanitation, drainage management, and sustainable urban planning, advocating people-friendly governance and close citizen engagement to identify developmental gaps. She stated, “Srinagar is the heart of J&K, and its development reflects the overall progress of the Union Territory.” Officers were urged to ensure quality and timely completion of projects under the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and avoid duplication or fragmented decision-making.
Highlighting the principle of single line administration introduced by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, Minister Itoo emphasized accountability and interdepartmental coordination to facilitate citizens at every level. She noted, “Every rupee spent from the exchequer must translate into visible progress on the ground to improve the quality of life for the common people.”
The Minister concluded by reaffirming the Omar Abdullah-led government’s commitment to the historic district’s overall development. The meeting included a detailed presentation on Srinagar’s developmental aspects by the Chief Planning Officer.
