Dr Jitendra holds Public Durbar, announces AIIMS Jammu Outreach Centre for Basohli

Jul 05, 2025

BASOHLI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today held a nearly three-hour long Public Durbar at Basohli in district Kathua, as part of his continued outreach efforts to engage directly with citizens and local representatives , not only at district level bit also at Tehsil, block and Panchayat level.

The entire district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner , Rakesh Minhas and senior officers of various departments like PWD, PHE, Education Health, PMGSY etc were present to facilitate grievance redressal on the spot and ensure prompt action.

In a major announcement during the Durbar, Dr Jitendra Singh announced the setting up of an AIIMS Jammu Outreach Centre at Basohli, addressing a long-pending demand of the region.

The facility, AIIMS Outreach Centre, the Minister said, will ensure 24x7 availability of super-speciality doctors and surgeons as well as Emergency services . He informed that discussions are already underway between AIIMS Jammu authorities and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to finalise the location and to put in place a roster system for specialist medical personnel to serve the new branch. Director AIIMS Vijaypur Jammu , Dr Shakti Gupta had updated him about it this morning also, he said.

A separate district for Basohli -Billawar is top on our agenda , said Dr Jitendra Singh and will be pursued vigorously whenever the J&K government sets up the next District Reorganisation Committee.

About Basohli being notified as a Heritage town, the Minister informed that the UT authorities have been asked to send a proposal in a proper format so that it can be taken up at the Centre.

During the public interaction, Dr Jitendra Singh listened patiently to the grievances and demands raised by individual citizens and public delegations. Several issues were resolved on-the-spot, while in other cases, the Minister issued directions to the concerned district officials for swift and time-

During today's Public Durbar, the administration also provided the Union Minister with the updates on several pending matters that were raised in previous such public interactive meetings. He assured the attendees that he would personally monitor the progress of the issues brought to light today and ensure that the district administration acts upon them without delay.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized that elected representatives have a responsibility not only to solve the genuine issues of the people but also to make them feel available, heard and cared for. "The Public Durbar initiative is one of the most effective means of strengthening the bridge between the people and their government," he said

Dr Jitendra Singh also announced the widening of the Dhar Road, a key move to ensure smooth and secure movement of commuters as well as security forces given its strategic significance. In addition, he informed the gathering that the much-anticipated Ujh Multipurpose Project is being revived.

Apart from enhancing irrigation and power generation capacities, the project will also serve a critical security role, as the region has been identified as vulnerable to cross-border infiltration.

Reiterating the commitment of the NDA Government under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the aim is to deliver transparent and efficient governance to the doorstep of every citizen, transcending the barriers of region, caste, or political affiliation. He said these public outreach programmes are driven by the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.

The Public Durbar witnessed the presence of a cross-section of the society, including Panchayati Raj Institution members, civil society representatives, and local youth.

Dr Jitendra Singh has been consistently touring the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua Parliamentary constituency in recent months, taking the governance model closer to the people by interacting with them in such forums. The Minister underlined that such initiatives help reinforce the people's faith in responsive and accountable administration.