Sanjeev Pargal/
Fayaz Bukhari
CHANDERKOOT/SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced much awaited Rs 80,000 crores worth package for Jammu and Kashmir covering all three regions of the State-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, all refugees from 1947 onwards including Kashmiri Pandits, people affected by floods of September 2014 and building of infrastructure.
Modi invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s quote of ‘Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat and Insaniyat’ (social consciousness and cultural values of the Kashmiri people, democracy and humanity) saying he would like to follow these three ‘mantras’, which are the pillars of development for Kashmir.
Addressing two rallies in Srinagar and Chanderkoot in Ramban district of Jammu today, Modi announced mega package of Rs 80,000 crores for Jammu and Kashmir in both the rallies amidst thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd with youth and women dancing, clapping and chanting `Modi Modi’ at both the rallies.
Declaring that treasuries and heart of New Delhi were open for Jammu and Kashmir and Rs 80,000 crores worth package is only a sample and there was no full stop, the Prime Minister, however, said that the State will have to be accountable for every single penny spent from the package.
“The Centre announces Rs 80,000 crore package to the State. It’s my heart-felt desire that this money will be helpful in turning your fate. This money should be used for converting the State into a new Jammu and Kashmir which is modern, prosperous and progressive State.
“This Rs 80,000 crore is not a full stop. It’s rather a beginning…Dilli ka khazana aap ke liye hai, Dilli ka khazana hee nahi, dil bhi aap ke liye hazir hai (The treasury is for you. Not only our treasury, but our heart also beats for you),” said Modi.
“The dreams of two generations have been lost in last two decades. But I am an optimist and would like to move ahead and covert Jammu and Kashmir into a modern and developed State,” he said.
“Jammu and Kashmir has suffered a lot. A number of refugees came to the State right from 1947 onwards. The Kashmiri Pandits were also dislocated from their houses. The package will cover all the refugees from 1947 onwards to ensure dignified life for all of them. We have kept provision for all of them. All problems faced by the people in Jammu and Kashmir have been addressed in the package,” the Prime Minister announced.
Asserting that there was lot for unemployed youths in the package announced by him today, Modi said five new battalions of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) will be raised in Jammu and Kashmir in which 4000 youths will get job opportunities.
Recalling September 2014 floods, he said that large number of houses, villages , hospitals, roads, culverts and business complexes were destroyed in the floods in both Jammu and Kashmir regions, he said all this damage would form part of the package.
Modi said Rs 80,000 crores worth package would take care of all three regions-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “The solar energy requirement of Ladakh has been included in the package,” he added.
Rs 42,611 crore out of the Rs 80,068 crore package announced by Modi have been earmarked for improving road infrastructure.
An amount of Rs 7,854 crore have been given for flood relief, reconstruction and flood management.
“This includes monetary help to people for reconstruction of damaged houses and for infrastructure; restoration of livelihood for traders and small businessmen; a plan for comprehensive flood management of river Jhelum and its tributaries; and Jhelum-Tawi flood reconstruction project,” an official statement here said.
A sum of Rs 42,611 crore are for road and highway projects which include construction of Zojila tunnel; semi ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar; projects under Bharat Mala for better connectivity; and upgradation of important highway and other projects in the State, it said.
Rs 5263 crores have been earmarked for Security and welfare of displace people.
“This includes amount towards job for Kashmiri migrants, rehabilitation of families from Chhamb and PoK, construction of houses and setting up of five Indian Reserve Police (IRP) battalions. The IRP battalions will create 4000 jobs for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” the handout said.
MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh said the funds under Security head will cover salary of SPOs doubled by the Centre from Rs 3000 per month to Rs 6000.
A total of Rs 2,241 crore are meant for promoting tourism in the State by developing new projects and tourist circuits, and setting up of 50 tourist villages.
In addition, Rs 11,708 crore are for power, new and renewable energy. This includes augmentation of power infrastructure and distribution systems; solar power; small hydro projects, the statement said.
Rs 4,900 crore has been earmarked for improving health care facilities in the State which includes creation of two AIIMS-like institutions in capital cities of the State, and support for creation of infrastructure in hospitals and primary health centres.
Rs 2,600 crore has been earmarked for human resource development, skill development and sports. The amount from this head will be spent on establishment of IIT and IIM in Jammu; stepping up efforts under the ‘HIMAYAT’ scheme to train one lakh youth over five years, and augmenting sports infrastructure.
A sum of Rs 529 crore is for support for horticulture, and creation of cold storage facilities.
Rs 2,312 crore will be used under smart cities and Swachh Bharat missions; and for infrastructure in towns of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, Rs 5,263 crore was for security and welfare of displaced people.
“This includes amounts towards jobs for Kashmiri migrants, rehabilitation of families from Chhamb and PoK, construction of houses, and setting up of five India Reserve Battalions. The India Reserve Battalions will create 4,000 jobs for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
Rs 50 crore will be for Pashmina promotion project. “Total package amount- Rs 80,068 crore,” the statement said.
These are over and above the amounts already committed, including Rs 837 crore under Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and Rs 1,000 crore given to the State after last year’s floods.
Noting that the package was aimed at giving economic boost to Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said it would cover employment, development of cities and rural areas, revival of tourism and give boost to other economic activities. He described it as biggest ever package in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi announced the package amid thunderous applause and slogans of “Modi ,Modi” from the gathering of thousands of people who had come from different parts of Kashmir despite cold weather and heightened security.
Modi said there was no reason that Kashmir cannot emerge from its troubled past and praised the courage of the people. “I believe that crisis, however, deep it might be, can be overcome with determination”, he said.
Prime Minister praised Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for changing the atmosphere in the State and promised to make Jammu and Kashmir into a modern and developed State. “Kashmir has seen a lot of crisis over the past 20 years. Dreams of two generations have been shattered. I have set out to make Kashmir paradise on earth again, to make it prosperous. I have belief in Mufti Sahib…. I have belief in you. Otherwise, we would not see such an atmosphere (at the rally),” he added.
Modi narrated his experience of reconstruction following the Gujarat earthquake of 2001. He said that though the State of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered a lot due to floods last year, he saw the spirit (jazba) among the people, and was convinced that the State would soon overcome the difficulties. He recalled how he had rushed to the State soon after the floods and had spent Diwali last year in the State. He also recalled how his mother had given him Rs. 5000 last year for flood relief in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that the youth of the State needed employment and assured the Mufti Sayeed-led PDP-BJP alliance that the Centre was standing rock solid behind it in its endeavour to restore normalcy in the State
“We may touch any heights in economy and technology. And no matter how much the life changes, we may even build a castle in the air, but it is only our soul that inspires us to respect the dignity of self and others,” he said.
Modi pledged to tread the path of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on Kashmir saying the Government will follow his three ‘mantras’ of Kashmiriyat, democracy and Humanity of the former Prime Minister. “We have to move in the footsteps of Atalji on Kashmir. I don’t need any advice or analysis from the world … the road to development passes through the pillars of Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat”, he said.
“There was massive participation in the Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections. Today Mufti Sahib is talking about conducting Panchayat elections, to empower them. This is the democracy that Atalji wanted and dreamed of. I salute you,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said India is incomplete without Kashmiriyat which is the “shaan, baan, aan” of the country. “Communal harmony has emanated from here. The Sufi tradition, which binds us, and not divide us, has started from here,” he said.
This was a direct indication that the Prime Minister was not averse to the talks on Kashmir within the ambit of the Constitution, which was part of Vajpayee doctrine though Modi didn’t make any mention of talks in his speech.
However, he reiterated his Government’s resolve that it would work for `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’ and added that in view of this it was essential for development to reach all parts of the country. He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir should return once again to the days when people from all parts of India saved money to visit the State. He said besides tourism, attention was being given to sectors such as pashmina and saffron.
The Prime Minister also didn’t make any mention of stalled dialogue process with Pakistan or initiating talks with separatists as was being anticipated in the political circles.
“I don’t need advise or analysis from anyone in this world on Kashmir. The three `mantras’ of Atal Ji will be helpful in moving forward. Kashmiriyat Kay Bina Hindustan Adhura Hai (Without Kashmiriyat, India is incomplete). Sufi tradition has emerged from this land and this tradition has taught us oneness and strength of unity,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that he has a development sketch in his mind for the State based on the interactions with the leaders of the State including Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his Ministers. “The development process has to be implemented within a set timeframe. We want to help the farmers, the traders and people whose houses were damaged by the floods last year. We want to bring out every family from the problems. Delhi will work shoulder to shoulder with the State Government in this regard,” he said.
Modi said unemployment is the biggest challenge facing the State and a solution to this problem will resolve every other problem. He said the focus of the Government is on reviving the tourism and promoting the handicrafts and other cash crops like apple and saffron of the State.
The Prime Minister said efforts should be made to attract some portion of Indians who travel abroad towards Kashmir to give boost to tourism here. “More than 1.75 crore Indians travel abroad for tourism. Can we make efforts to get only 5 per cent of this number to Kashmir, which will change the tourism scenario and bring back the old days of peace and tranquility,” he said. He said the State had potential for adventure tourism, eco tourism and leisure tourism to attract visitors from across the world.
Giving an example of harnessing the local crafts, Modi said cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Dhoni might have hit many sixes but the bats they used are made from the willow of Kashmir. “This is strength which we need to harness. We want a development model which provides livelihood opportunities to the youth,” he said.
Modi laid emphasis on use of information and digital technology for improving the life of the people. “We have to explore how to use the I-way, the information way, and digital network to connect the people of Kashmir. As part of skill development, we have to look at how to improve the quality of handicrafts and their designs too, besides finding global markets for these products,” he added.
On infrastructure development, the Prime Minister said his Government wants to develop this sector. “Today it takes nine to 11 hours to travel from Jammu to Srinagar, which can put off the tourists. We are spending Rs 34000 crore on Jammu-Srinagar road which will reduce the travel time significantly as the distance will be less by 70 kilometers due to construction of tunnels on the road,” he said, adding that this project will be completed within two and half years.
On the human resource of the State, Modi said the youth of State have excelled in the competitive exams like IAS, IPS, IIT and IIM over the past few years which is indicative of the strength of the State. “I have recognised this talent of Kashmir and when I recognise the talent, I do everything that is needed to be done,” he said.
The Prime Minister pitched for resumption of international cricket in Kashmir saying if a player like Parvez Rasool is making progress, the top level competitive matches should also return. “It has been 30 years since an international match was played here,” he said referring the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket stadium, where the last one day international was played between India and Australia in 1986.
The Prime Minister said the atmosphere of gloom that pervaded India till recently has lifted over the last 17 months. He said India is now considered the fastest growing major economy in the world.
Modi said the 17-month-old NDA Government has managed to turn around the image of India as a “written off” economy to one of the fast developing economies in the world.
“Today within these 17 months, India has marked its name in the whole world, including big nations, among the fast developing economies,” Modi said addressing a public rally here.
The Prime Minister said before he took office, so much was written about India being on the brink of destruction due to mis-governance and corruption in the country.
“Seventeen months back, take any Indian newspaper or watch any TV debate on YouTube, listen to any agency in the world – the only voice was that India had been destroyed and can’t be saved. That India has reached the point of destruction. Economic situation, corruption, mis-governance and other such diseases have destroyed India. 17 months back, these voices used to echo in our ears,” he said.
Modi said no one would dare to compare India with China at that time as the neighbouring country had moved ahead of us.
“Today when there is any talk of India’s development, economic development, every time India’s comparison is made with China and nowadays it is repeatedly being said that India has surpassed China. This could happen in 17 months,” he said.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that improvement made by India on Transparency International index for taking steps to fight corruption.
“I read a report while coming here. It was a report of Transparency International which speaks about the status of corruption around the globe – whether it is on rise or on decline in a particular nation. China was considered better placed than India in this regard.
“For the first time in the last 50 years, India is successfully 10 steps ahead of China in eradicating corruption. Our number in corruption was at 95 in the world. Today’s report says that we have reached 85th place by taking important steps to curb corruption,” he added.
The Prime Minister said in 17 months, India has shown that it moved forward in anti-corruption crusade.
“Once India decides to do something, it does”.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Jitendra Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and entire cabinet shared the podium with the Prime Minister at the Stadium.
Modi said the tunnels on the Jammu- Srinagar national highway will soon become a tourist attraction in the country.
Modi said the State Government will have to provide accounts of each and every penny spend on the Rs 80,000 crore package announced by him so that the package.
“I have said this in Srinagar, that the pace at which you spend the money, the perfect progress you make and give account of each and every single penny spent (app jitna pai pai ka hisb doge), so take it in writing that this Rs 80,000 crore package would not be the full-stop, but an auspicious beginning”, Modi said.
“How you implement it, how fast you do it, how perfectly you do it, how much of people’s participation is there, then the treasury of Delhi and the heart of Delhi is dedicated for Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
While stressing on providing employment opportunity to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, he said that the package would also help increase the employment opportunities for the youth of the state.
“Apart from that Jammu and Kashmir should get new energy and that energy would come when the youth of the State will get employment. The steps that need to be taken to increase the employment avenues in the State have also been taken into consideration while deciding this Rs 80,000 crore package”, he said.
The Prime Minister said that there are many steps which have been taken into considerations including the skill development, education, IIT, IIMs, hospitals, AIIMS and when all these facilities would be fully developed the people will get employment.
“This is so far the biggest package in the history of the state of the Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
He said measures to bring Jammu and Kashmir at par with other states of the country, to see that tourism once again gets evolved and youth get employment, all this was taken into consideration while sanctioning the Rs 80,000 crore package.
He said that his government has started several schemes to provide employment to the youth and help small businessman to run their business.
“These days I want to tell especially the youth that the schemes of Government of India, some schemes are very important and you can take advantage of these schemes. We have started a Pradhan Mantri Mudhra Yojana and this scheme is for the benefit of the people who do small business. Some sell newspapers — some sell milk– these people even if they need Rs 1000, borrow money from private lenders who charge them exorbitant interest rates and the income these small businessman make goes in the interest to those money lenders”, he said.
He said banks are giving loans to small businessmen and the lenders don’t have to give any guarantee to take loan upto Rs 50,000 and they can start their own business.
Modi asked the youth to come forward and explore their talent.
“You should come forward and use your talent, Government is ready to give money and I have told banks that every branch should give loan to one Dalit or a tribal and a lady, minimum of two people should get benefited” he said.
Modi said, “You stand on your feet as today in Delhi there is a Government which is living for you and wants to do something for you but you have to come forward”.
“People will say that they won’t use aeroplane but would like to see the tunnels. They would want to see the longest tunnel in the country. It will become a hub of tourism and for that development has to be taken to such a height, we are working on that directions,” Modi said.
Assuring that efforts were being made to ensure that the target set is achieved, Modi said, “We have given a time-frame to the Government machinery to finish the task and it is being regularly monitored as to how many poles have been installed. Everything is being monitored,” he said.
To ensure round-the-clock electricity supply in every household, he said the country needed to stop relying on fossil fuels for its energy requirements. “We have to change the situation. Though we are getting electricity by using gas and coal, we now need to shift our focus.”
Modi said Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir has huge potential for solar energy which can be used to generate electricity and the Rs 80,000 crore package announced by him would also help in exploiting this potential.
“Today in Srinagar, I announced a package of Rs 80,000 crores for the equitable development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Using this package, solar energy can be used to generate electricity for Leh, Ladakh and Kargil,” he said.
He further said that the Government has been giving subsidy on purchase of LED bulbs. “We have started a mission in this country to save electricity. Though generation and transmission of electricity is important, its conservation electricity is even more important,” he said.
“If tubelights and bulbs are replaced with LEDs, a single family can save Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 200 on electricity bills. Also, the power saved can be given to poor families,” he said.
On using waste material for generating electricity, he said, “We are working on the Swatch Bharat Mission, and exploring options on how to use waste to generate electricity. Work is under progress on that,” he said.
He also stressed on the need for development of modern infrastructure on the highway.
The PM said people want to settle near the national highway, so their requirement of road network has changed and now they demand four lanes for national highway and double lane in villages instead of just a small roads.
“…As you know that there was a time when people used to set up cities on the river banks. Then there came a time when people started to settle near the national highway because connectivity became a crucial part in todays era,” he said.
Modi said expectations of common people were changing and for that roads have to be modern as far as their architecture was concerned, “modern technology and new material should be used for the construction of roads. We are giving focus on that”
He said development of roads would save time and “as it is said that time is money”.
“If time is saved, lot of money can be saved. If I have to travel from Jammu to Srinagar and if instead of 10-12 hours, I reach in 2-4 hours then it would save my entire day, and roads were being constructed keeping these points in mind,” he said.
Modi said expenditure on the construction of roads have increased because the quality has improved and the material, technology have changed.
He said the Government was working on providing rail and road connectivity, water and electricity supply to ensure that people get all these facilities in modern way.
Ahead of the Climate Change Summit in Paris, Modi said renewable energy could be a major component in meeting India’s power requirement and promised to provide electricity to 18,000 villages in the country in the next 1,000 days.
Addressing a rally after inaugurating a 450 MW phase-II Baglihar power project near Jammu, Modi said the need of the hour was to take steps that ensure the environment is preserved for the next generation and therefore, India has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022.
“Today the whole world is greatly worried about global warming and climate change… One thing which comes to mind is. The ways in which power generation must be changed.
“The easiest way to save the environment is to rely on hydro electricity, solar electricity and wind electricity. And for this, installation of windmills, solar panels, hydro projects are the steps which need to be taken,” he said.
He said India had set a “major target” of generating 175 GW of renewable energy, which can decrease the dependency on the electricity generated from using fossil fuels.
“India has kept a major target of 175 Giga Watts (GW) of renewable energy. Our thinking has been restricted to only Mega Watts — 1000 MW, 5000 MW, 10,000 MW. The term Giga Watt was never heard of. Today this government is moving towards 175 GW of hydro, solar and wind energy so that we can safeguard the environment and open new doors of development with the help of electricity,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said that it is his government’s dream that every household of every village in the country gets round-the-clock electricity.
“We have a dream that by 2022, when India would be celebrating its 75th year of independence, every village of the country should get 24X7 electricity,” he said.
Stating that he was personally monitoring the progress towards ensuring each village gets electricity, Modi said, “Few days ago, I was asked in a meeting as to how many villages in our country don’t have even a single electric pole. And, it came to my notice that even after 70 years of independence, 18,000 villages in our country don’t have such a facility. What can be a bigger misfortune than this?”
“We have taken a resolve that work which could not be done in the last 70 years will be done in next 1,000 days. We will make sure that electricity reaches these 18,000 villages in the next 1,000 days,” he added.
Assuring that efforts were being made to ensure that the target set is achieved, Modi said, “We have given a time-frame to the government machinery to finish the task and it is being regularly monitored as to how many poles have been installed. Everything is being monitored,” he said.
To ensure round-the-clock electricity supply in every household, he said the country needed to stop relying on fossil fuels for its energy requirements. “We have to change the situation. Though we are getting electricity by using gas and coal, we now need to shift our focus.”
Modi said Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir has huge potential for solar energy which can be used to generate electricity and the Rs 80,000 crore package announced by him would also help in exploiting this potential.
“Today in Srinagar, I announced a package of Rs 80,000 crores for the equitable development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Using this package, solar energy can be used to generate electricity for Leh, Ladakh and Kargil,” he said.
He further said that the government has been giving subsidy on purchase of LED bulbs. “We have started a mission in this country to save electricity. Though generation and transmission of electricity is important, its conservation electricity is even more important,” he said.
“If tube lights and bulbs are replaced with LEDs, a single family can save Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 200 on electricity bills. Also, the power saved can be given to poor families,” he said.
On using waste material for generating electricity, he said, “We are working on the Swatch Bharat Mission, and exploring options on how to use waste to generate electricity. Work is under progress on that,” he said.
Taking a dig at the opposition parties, albeit without naming any of them, the Prime Minister said some of them were not even able to understand the work done by our Government.
“We have opened 10 crore bank accounts between August 15, 2014 to January 26, 2015. Toilets have been constructed in four lakh Government schools,” he said and asked: “isn’t it the work”?
The Prime Minister said 60 lakh people have benefited from Prime Minister’s Mudra Yojana scheme in which the youths were being given loans up to Rs 50,000 without any guarantee and called upon the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to avail the opportunity.
In his brief address, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed lauded the assurance given by Union Road and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari for completion of four-laning work of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway within two years.
Addressing the gathering in his farewell address, MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh said the development yatra, which had started with the swearing in of Modi as the Prime Minister last year, has marched ahead with inauguration of Baglihar hydro-electric project Phase-II and foundation of 4-laning of Udhampur-Banihal stretch of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Describing the Prime Minister as `solution to all problems’, he said whenever there was any problem on borders, refugees etc, the people pinned hopes on Modi.
Later, in a statement, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh, who returned to Union capital this evening along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the latter’s one day tour of Jammu & Kashmir, hailed the biggest ever package given to the State so far by any government at the Centre and said that he was particularly gratified by the fact that the issue of SPOs, which he had consistently pursued for the last two years, had finally been addressed through the package.
He also hailed the inclusion of PoJK refugees and displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the package.
Elaborating further, Dr Singh said, monetary emoluments which are due to the SPOs, will be paid to them at the rate of double hike which was announced by the Union Home Ministry one year back but had not been paid to them because the State government expressed its inability to spare funds for the purpose. The fund for paying salaries of SPOs is included in the “security” related category of package announced today, he disclosed. The SPOs had rendered exemplary service to combat militancy and therefore richly deserved it, he added.
Dr Singh hailed the provision for raising special battalions of security force which will particularly provide jobs to youth living in border areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, in his welcome address at Chanderkoot, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision in sanctioning biggest ever package worth Rs 80,000 crores for Jammu and Kashmir and said this would go a long way in development of the State, rehabilitation of flood victims and providing succor to other sections of the society.
Dr Nirmal Singh assured the Prime Minister that the PDP-BJP Government will carry out development works expeditiously. He lauded the concern shown by the Prime Minister for Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that he would continue to extend his helping hand to the State to take it to new heights.
The Deputy Chief Minister assured the Prime Minister that the State Government will leave no stone unturned in developing Jammu and Kashmir in the best possible manner.
Governor NN Vohra, Minister of State for Finance Pawan Gupta and Minister of State for Works Sunil Sharma were also present at Chanderkoot.
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