(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)
11,000 People Given Jobs, Says J&K Poised To Become Latest Success Story
Jammu- Terming the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status as a bold and decisive step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Territory Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Tuesday that the erstwhile state is poised to become the latest success story among Indian states and a model of Socio-Economic development for the country.
In his R-day message for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the LG said that the central government under the strong and able leadership of PM Modi took the bold and decisive step of breaking the shackles erected in the path of development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“After the historic transformative changes in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir is poised to become the latest success story among Indian states and a model of Socio-Economic development for the country. The government is committed to build a strong Jammu and Kashmir and we will continue to march ahead with Mantra of 4 P's -- Peace, Progress, Prosperity and People first. We are determined to ensure every single citizen of UT enjoys prosperous and peaceful life,” Sinha said, as per an official spokesperson.
The LG, he said, also gave details of the reforms made in the last thirty months, and said that government is developing Jammu and Kashmir as the piece of Indian culture and ethos that has the capability to provide opportunity to industries to compete, connect and collaborate with its readily available abundant resources.
“Despite challenges, efforts are underway for turning Jammu and Kashmir into a preferred destination for industrial investment and opportunities,” Sinha said.
“J&K is fast moving towards becoming a powerful and self-reliant Union Territory by improving the standard of living of farmers, youth, women, laborers and every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. The industrial revolution started just a year ago has achieved much more than what the Union Territory had clocked in the last 72 years,” he added.
The LG, as per the official spokesperson said that after the implementation of new industrial scheme under the guidance of PM and Home Minister Amit Shah, investment proposals worth Rs 48,000 crores have been received.
Sinha, he said, also stated that the land use change policy which was a major impediment for the industrial development of the region has been simplified which is likely to attract more investment.
“However, the people are being misled on this issue too,” Sinha said.
According to the official spokesperson, the LG assured the land owners and farmers that all these changes have been effected with the sole aim of empowering them.
“There is a section in the society which has always been misleading the people about imaginary issues like demographic change, and on this pretext the most hardworking and needy class of people had been deprived of alienated their own land, or even using it as per their wishes or requirements,” the LG said.
He also reiterated administration's commitment to promoting local businesses in real estate sector.
“Jammu and Kashmir recently hosted the first-ever historic Real Estate summit in December 2021, in which investment proposals worth Rs 18,300 crores were finalized,” the official spokesperson said.
Highlighting the investments attracted by J&K in the recently concluded Dubai Expo, the LG as per the official spokesperson said that the Global investors exhibited keen interest in investing in Jammu and Kashmir, and investment proposals worth Rs. 3000 crore were finalized in a short span of two days only.
“In total, a target of investment proposal worth Rs 70,000 crores has been achieved within a year,” Sinha said, adding“Jammu and Kashmir Private Industrial Estate Development Policy has been introduced, which incorporates mechanisms for Public-Private Partnership in the Industrial Sector,”
Speaking about the public outreach programme, the LG, as per the official spokesperson said that as many as 73 Union Ministers and various Parliamentary Committees visited all the districts for public interactions and gathering grass-root level feedback on government policies.
Giving details of the Government's efforts in employment generation in the last one and a half year, the LG, he said, stated that about11,000 appointments have been made in various government departments in a fair and transparent manner, which was unprecedented in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“For the first time, children from the disadvantaged and poor sections have secured jobs on the basis of merit, turning their dreams into reality,” Sinha said.
“Further, 20,323 additional posts at various levels have been identified and referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board for recruitment. Besides, 1850 appointments have been made in J&K Bank at various levels in a fair and transparent manner. As many as 1,37,870 youths have been provided assistance in their entrepreneurial ventures under various self-employment generation schemes and programmes, he added.
Underscoring the initiatives taken for channelizing the enormous potential of our youth and ensuring their participation in the process of governance, the LG said that 4,500 youth clubs have been set up covering all Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies in the UT through which 63,000 youths have been connected. Playfields have been set up in 4000 Panchayats.
“More than one and a half dozen job-oriented programs have been started through the dedicated initiative of Mission Youth along-with Skill Development Programmes aimed at their future and sustainable livelihood,” the LG said.
The LG also highlighted several important reforms undertaken to ensure transparency, accountability in the administration establishing fear-free, corruption-free system of governance besides introducing principles of financial prudence which have revolutionized the project implementation and enhanced financial inclusion and social equity. Every single penny of the government exchequer is now spent on welfare of the people, he added.
“No work is being allotted without following tendering process; no bill is passed without geotagging and physical verification. Project delay which was earlier considered a norm is now a thing of the past. Against 9229 projects completed in 2018 at a cost of Rs. 67,000 crores, around 21,943 projects have been completed at a cost of Rs. 63,000 crore only in the current year. This year, we are hopeful that three-times more projects will be completed,” Sinha said.
“J&K has become the first Union Territory/State in the country to have District Good Governance Index for assessing the efficiency of public delivery system at district level and fostering transparency and accountability in the basic unit of governance and fulfilling the aspirations of citizens. Best practices are being identified in each district for replication in others,” he added.
While highlighting the milestones achieved in power generation, distribution and transmission sector to improve the power sector, the LG, as per the official spokesperson said that this year we are going to add capacity of 3,015 MVA to our Power Transmission System as against the capacity addition of only 670 MVA last year. Likewise, in Power Distribution Sector, a capacity of 1286 MVA is being added this year as against the capacity addition of 690 MVA last year.
“In comparison to last year, the Kashmir Valley is getting 22 percent more electricity supply owing to improved infrastructure. We have tried to provide adequate electricity to the entire Union Territory during the recent winters and are also hopeful to provide more electricity to Jammu Division during the forthcoming summer season,” he added.
Sinha further said that under the guidance of PM, an amount of rupees one lakh crore is being spent on road and tunnel infrastructure. Jammu and Kashmir, which once stood at 10th, 11th position in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), has secured the third rank in the country. Till the year 2018, on an average, 1500 to 1600 kms of road length used to be constructed each year; the same has now more than doubled to 3200 kilometers.
“Similarly, around 2200 to 2300 kilometers of road length used to be macadamized each year which also has more than doubled to 5137 kilometers. We will achieve the target of record 8000 km of road macadamization by the end of this financial year,” the LG said.
“The travel time between Srinagar and Jammu has been reduced from 10 hours to 5 hours. International flights have started between Srinagar and Sharjah. Two new airport terminals are coming up at Jammu and Srinagar. Cargo facility has been provided at Jammu and Srinagar airports for the convenience of the farmers and businessmen. Kashmir will be connected to Kanyakumari through rail network by next year. Work on Light Metro Rail in Jammu and Srinagar city at an estimated cost of Rs 10,599 crore shall start this year. Last year, the Qazigund-Banihal tunnel was made operational for traffic. The work on Z-Morh Tunnel on Srinagar-Sonmarg Road is going on at a brisk pace, which has provided an opportunity to tourists to visit the beautiful place in winters as well. Work on Zojila Tunnel on Srinagar-Leh road has commenced at a cost of Rs 4509 crore, which will be completed by September 2026. With the construction of six-lane Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, the travel time from Delhi to Vaishno Devi will be reduced to six hours only,” he added.
While speaking about the three-tier Panchayati Raj system which has been put in place to ensure people's participation in socio-economic and developmental efforts, the LG, according to the official spokesperson said that a new leadership at District, Block and Panchayat level is ensuring formulation and implementation of policies, keeping in mind the priorities of common people.
“Special attention is being paid to make grass-root democratic institutions self-reliant, competent and autonomous and for synergizing their developmental efforts,” he said.
According to the official spokesperson, the LG observed that Peace in Jammu and Kashmir is a prerequisite for a vibrant tourism sector, which of late has set new employment and revenue generation records.
“Between August and November 2021, about 52 lakh tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping in view the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations of 75 years of independence, 75 off-beat tourist destinations are being developed in the Union Territory. Culture is a way of life and it is reflected in the elevated intellectual and spiritual experiences of the land. In order to celebrate rich cultural heritage of the Union Territory, a week-long iconic festival was held in October last year. Well-known personalities from music and literature participated in the event hosted under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” he said.
Retreating J&K Government's commitment towards the welfare of the people of the tribal community who were allegedly neglected by the previous governments, Sinha said while present dispensation trying to give physical shape to their hopes and aspirations, a tiny section is trying hard to provoke and mislead them.
“For the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Tribal community has been vested with forest rights in accordance with the principles of social justice and harmony. An integrated plan has been formulated for the future generation of this deprived community by ensuring their rights on forest products,” he said.
“100 smart schools are being built for the tribal children. Transit accommodation for tribal families on eight migratory routes and tribal community centers are being set up at eight important places,” he added.
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