SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Department to evaluate the implementation of flagship rural schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), and the placement-linked skill training programme Himayat (DDU-GKY).
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Rural Development Department, Aijaz Asad; Director General, Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra; Managing Director, Himayat, Rajneesh Gupta; and other senior officers.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary directed officials to adopt a mission-mode approach for the timely completion of all pending PMAY-G houses and to expedite new placement plans under Himayat. He stressed on continuous monitoring, data-driven progress assessment, and adherence to timelines to ensure maximum impact of development interventions.
Providing an update on PMAY-G, Secretary RDD Aijaz Asad informed that Jammu and Kashmir has achieved 95% completion under the scheme. Out of 3,34,718 sanctioned houses, 3,18,542 have been completed, while 16,176 are under various stages of construction. Of these, 6,933 houses are in progress, including 1,240 at plinth level and 5,693 at lintel/roof level, targeted for completion by December 31, 2025, with an expenditure outlay of ₹35.08 crore.
Under the proposed PMAY-G 2.0 phase, 5,02,101 household surveys have been conducted to identify new beneficiaries. The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has also approved 5,061 houses under a special project for families affected by natural calamities, with registration scheduled to close by October 31, 2025.
Commending the department’s performance under SBM-G, Dulloo noted that the UT is on course to achieve 100% ODF+ Model status across all villages. DG, Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra, informed that 6,115 out of 6,216 villages (98.38%) have already been declared ODF+ Model, while the remaining 69 villages are expected to achieve the status by mid-November 2025. Verification of all ODF+ Model villages is progressing well, with 5,409 villages having completed the first round, and full verification expected by December 2025.
The meeting also reviewed the formulation of key policies, including the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Policy for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) and the Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) Policy, aimed at regulating private desludging operations in rural areas. Under the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) 2025–26, the department has completed 738 Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) and 1,905 Community Soak Pits, further strengthening sanitation infrastructure.
Presenting an update on the Himayat (DDU-GKY) programme, MD Rajneesh Gupta informed that 35,682 candidates have been trained so far, with 14,734 placed in various sectors against a target of 81,797 trainees, utilizing a cumulative expenditure of ₹318.80 crore. Under the revamped DDU-GKY 2.0, the scheme has an approved outlay of ₹37.64 crore, with 68 project proposals received from prospective Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). A Pre-PAC meeting is scheduled for the first week of November 2025 to finalize project sanctions.
Highlighting outreach efforts, the Chief Secretary was informed that during the Seva Parv placement drive, over 125 offer letters were issued to trained candidates. A Counselling-cum-Call Centre, established in collaboration with IIT Jammu, is also operational to enhance post-placement support and guidance.
Concluding the review, Dulloo directed all departmental heads to maintain strict adherence to timelines, ensure real-time monitoring, and uphold accountability-driven implementation to accelerate progress under all flagship schemes. He emphasized that the ultimate goal of these initiatives is to deliver tangible benefits to rural citizens, strengthen grassroots governance, and foster transparent, people-centric development across Jammu and Kashmir.
