Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 5: Minister for Planning and Development, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today said that a massive effort is underway to ensure inclusive development of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir with focused attention on remote and far-flung areas.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Suhagini in Marh, the Minister said while thrust is being laid on expediting the process of development in the key sectors like roads and building, health, education, power and drinking water, special attention is being towards prioritizing employment generation schemes.
Mr Sadhotra said the State has traversed a long way during the past five years under the stewardship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with discernible benefits of development and implementation of various welfare schemes. “This process is continuing”, he said and sought the cooperation of the people in realizing the dream of achieving self sustenance in various spheres. He complimented the people for showing keen interest in developmental effort, saying this has yielded positive dividends with administration becoming more responsive to their needs.
Referring to the initiatives taken for steering the State to peace, progress and development, Mr Sadhotra said that though much has been achieved yet there is still more to be done for satiating the political and economic aspirations of the people.
The Minister dwelt in detail on various schemes launched for ensuring the holistic development of the State besides realizing the goal of fulfilling the promises made to the people. He particularly made a mention of various innovative programmes especially employment generation scemes, undertaken for addressing the vexed problems confronted to the State.
He said the initiatives taken in recent years have fructified in the empowerment of the people in decision making with the Panchayati Raj becoming a reality. He also referred to the Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee Acts and said these revolutionary measures are aimed at empowering the people to make Government accountable. He said a new era of peace has dawned across the State that has given fillip to economic activity and spurt to developmental initiatives. He particularly made a mention of turnaround in the situation and said that peace and normalcy have created a situation conducive for enhanced economic activity and faster development.
Earlier, the Minister urged the people to remain vigilant against the machinations of the opposition parties, the main agenda of which is to polarise the situation and benefit from division in the society. He said their main plank during the ensuing elections will be to promote such an atmosphere.
“BJP should remember that their tactics will not succeed in a State like Jammu and Kashmir that has always rejected the disruptive and communal forces”, he said and recalled the glorious role played by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in binding the people of different faiths and regions together. Responding to the local demands, put forth by the representatives of the people, Mr Sadhotra said these will be examined at appropriate level for earnest redressal.
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