JAMMU, Oct 14: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Tuesday launched a ward-wise people-to-people contact programme across all 75 wards of Jammu City to strengthen public outreach, address civic grievances and communicate the party’s vision for modernising the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).
As part of the initiative, a meeting of JKNC Ward No. 4, Fattu Chowgan, was held under the chairmanship of Chander Mohan Sharma, District President, Jammu Urban. The meeting was organised by Ashok Dogra, former JMC Corporator and District Vice President, Jammu Urban.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President, JKNC Jammu, attended the meeting as the chief guest. Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, Provincial Secretary, Jammu, Farooq Mughal and Sardar Gurnam Singh, District Secretary, Jammu Urban, were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Gupta said the outreach programme aimed to establish direct communication with residents in every ward, understand their day-to-day problems and ensure that genuine public grievances were brought to the notice of the concerned authorities.
He said the Omar Abdullah-led government was focusing on improving civic amenities and addressing issues concerning sanitation, lanes, drains, nallahs and parking facilities across Jammu City.
“Jammu needs to be developed as a clean, green, modern and well-managed city. This requires systematic planning, better traffic regulation, adequate parking facilities and efficient municipal services,” Gupta said.
He emphasised that regular maintenance of civic infrastructure and responsive public administration were essential to improving the quality of life of residents.
Gupta also highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Omar Abdullah-led government in sectors including Jal Shakti, electricity, healthcare, school education and higher education, stating that improved public services and infrastructure remained important priorities.
He added that the ward-wise programme would enable party representatives to document residents’ concerns and pursue their resolution through the appropriate authorities.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmad stressed the importance of preserving Jammu’s longstanding traditions of secularism, communal harmony and brotherhood. He said people belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities had lived together for generations, contributing to the city’s composite culture.
Ashok Dogra assured residents of his continued support in resolving civic issues, stating, “I have served you as a corporator and continue to remain available to address your civic problems. I am always at your disposal.”
The meeting concluded with a call for sustained public engagement and collective efforts to make Jammu cleaner, greener and better equipped to meet the needs of its growing population.
Among those present were Prabhat Kapahi, Subash Anana, Kamal Verma, Sher Khan, Sanjay Singh, Mohd. Razak, Anwar Mohd., Suraj Khajuria, Rakesh Kumar, Bal Krishan, Rahmat, Satish Tandan and Vinay Dubey, among others.