Irani, Munda, Pandey in team to visit from Sept 9

More Ministers’ tour itinerary finalized

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Sept 7: Smriti Irani, Arjun Munda and Dr Mahinder Nath Pandey were among the 28 Union Ministers who will visit the J&K in first phase of Central Government’s public outreach programme from September 9 to October 5 as per the schedule released by Government of India.
As per sources, the team of Union Ministers who will visit J&K for nine weeks beginning from September 9 will go to the door steps of the people in the length and breadth of the UT and interact with them, listen their issues and inform them about the welfare schemes and measures taken by Narendra Modi Government for the people of J&K.
Sources said the Union Ministers will act as a bridge between people of J&K and the Government as most of the Ministers visiting the UT are directly linked to public welfare and development.
They will also try to allay the fears created among the people by the opposition parties that their rights have been snatched after abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A and instead will apprise them how the people of the UT could take direct benefit of the welfare measures and schemes of the Union Government of which they have been deprived due to the controversial Articles, sources said.
Sources said the Ministers will also highlight the development which the J&K has undergone under Narendra Modi led Government at Centre and inform the people about the benefits of new film policy and incentives given to film makers to attract them for shooting in J&K, new industrial policy and starting of sports activities in J&K.
Tribal Affairs Minister, Arjun Munda will visit North Kashmir district of Bandipora on September 16 and 17 while Women and Child Development Minister, Smriti Irani will visit Budgam district in Central Kashmir on September 21 and 22.
Heavy Industry Minister, Dr Mahinder Nath Pandey will visit Kathua on September 23 and 24 while Ajay Bhatt MoS Defence will visit the North Kashmir district of Kupwara on September 10 and 11 followed by MoS Agriculture and Welfare of Farmers Kailash Choudhary who will visit South Kashmir district of Shopian on September 11 and 12.
Dev Singh Chouhan, MoS Information and Broadcasting will visit South Kashmir district of Pulwama on September 14 and 15.
Tribal Affairs Budeshwar Tudu will visit Kishtwar district in Jammu region from September 25 to 27.
Jaikishan Reddy, MoS Culture and Tourism will visit Central Kashmir district of Srinagar from September 30 to October 1 while MoS, Steel Industry & Rural Development , Faghun Singh Kulaste will visit border district of Kupwara in North Kashmir on October 2 and 3 and Dr Virender Kumar , Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment will visit Samba district in Jammu region on October 4 and 5.