Malappuram (Keralam), Sep 26 Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday reviewed the implementation of various government schemes and utilisation of MP funds in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency at a meeting here.
Vadra chaired the review meeting at the Malappuram District Collectorate Conference Hall, where officials briefed her on the progress of various Centrally sponsored schemes and development projects.
She said the Union Communications Minister had informed her in reply to a letter that approval had been given for setting up BSNL towers at Puttala in Amarambalam, Kozhippara, Pathoor, Punchakkolly and Vendakkanpoil in Malappuram district.
Vadra said portals such as the Anganwadi Poshan Tracker and the NMMS app under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme were making procedures more complicated instead of simplifying them.
She said the issue would be brought to the attention of the government.
The Congress leader also suggested that traditional food practices of tribal communities be incorporated into nutrition programmes implemented in tribal areas.
Vadra welcomed the allocation of Rs five crore in the state Budget for the development of Malappuram Taluk Hospital and expressed hope that the proposed Tribal University in Wayanad would bring about significant changes in tribal areas.
District Collector Vinay Goyal said steps had been taken to simplify procedures for making soil available to pottery workers and that the Tahsildar had been appointed as the nodal officer.
He also said a project proposal had been submitted to Vanya Dhan enterprises for effective marketing of honey produced in tribal areas.
Vadra reviewed the implementation of TB screening programmes and said the screening was being carried out effectively.
She directed the Collector to convene a special meeting and take steps to expedite the Jal Jeevan Mission works, as delays in their completion were affecting the construction of PMGSY roads.
She also asked the Collector to speed up the fourth-phase works under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Officials said there had been significant progress in the utilisation of MP funds, with works worth Rs 4.33 crore completed out of the Rs 5 crore allocated.
After the meeting, speaking to reporters, Vadra said the discussions focused on reviewing various government schemes and assessing steps that could be taken to improve their implementation.
The meeting also discussed areas where she could extend support, measures that could be taken by the state government and issues that required her to approach the Centre, she said.
“We are all trying our best to do a good job,” Vadra said.
On the ongoing rehabilitation of landslide survivors in Wayanad, she said there were some hitches and that some people had been left out of the list of beneficiaries.
“We are reviewing that also. We are in the process of doing that,” she said.
Asked about the progress of the Congress’ promise to construct 100 houses for landslide survivors in the hill district, Vadra said she had visited the site during her previous visit and that construction work had started.
“We are pushing that to get completed soon,” she said.
Vadra also visited a flower display made of plastic waste at Kottakkunnu ground as part of an Onam initiative organised by the District Suchitwa Mission.
Ministers A P Anil Kumar and P K Basheer, MLAs Aryadan Shoukath and V S Joy, and Sub-Collector Sakshi Mohan, among others, attended the meeting.
(PTI News)
