‘COVID affected children nation’s responsibility’
Avtar Bhat
BUDGAM, May 30: Maintaining that Kashmir’s development journey got affected and economy was devastated by three decades long militancy, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that now it is high time to work for the compensation of losses.
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The Union Minister, who is on two days visit of Budgam district in Central Kashmir under Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s outreach programme on completion of eight year’s of BJP Government at Centre was talking to Panches, Sarpanches, Block Development Council (BDC) and District Development Council (DDC) representatives here, today.
The PRIs informed Dr Jitendra Singh that Kashmir lagged far behind in development during last seven decades due to the indifferent attitude of successive Governments. Dr Jitendra Singh said it is now high time that we all should focus on taking the J&K ahead so that it did not lag behind any other part of the country in progress and prosperity.”
He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi soon after taking over in 2014 had stated that his main priority would be to focus on those areas which remained neglected in the past to bring them at par with developed parts of the country and he gave much preference to J&K and North Eastern States in this regard.
The Minister said to give a practical shape to the vision of the Prime Minister it is high time for all of us that “we should focus on making up the lapses suffered over the years of militancy and work for development of the J&K as a whole.”
Dr Jitendra Singh said it is very good sign that influx of tourists has considerably increased in the Valley during this year as highest number of visitors are coming to Kashmir.
In response to a question of a reporter who asked that the National Conference (NC) has said that tourists were visiting before too, Dr Jitendra Singh said it is an evidence based era and figures are there how many tourists visited earlier and how many visited this year. “You can go through these figures’, and come to conclusion”, he added.
When asked what steps the Government has taken for the development of Budgam which is one of the oldest districts of Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Valley’s biggest airport is in Budgam.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has asked all the Ministers to consider entire nation as a family and work for the betterment of all people irrespective of their religion, region and caste alike.
Earlier, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated recently completed upgraded Smart Class Boys High School building having smart class facility with digitized system at Ompora Budgam.
The 10- room double storey school building for smart class rooms also comprises of facilities including library and common hall.
During interaction with staff and students, the Minister assured that the school building shall be highly equipped with latest facilities including smart classrooms and solar facility on priority.
During his visit to Budgam district, the Minister also interacted with COVID affected children at Conference Hall Budgam. Commemorating eight years of the Modi Government, he distributed cheques of Rs. 10,000, school bags, Ayushman Bharat (Golden cards) and scholarships under Saksham scheme among the beneficiaries who have been adversely hit during the pandemic.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that on the completion of eight years of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi led Government, the Centre has launched PM Care for children, an initiative to reach out to children.
He said that the aim of the initiative is to send a message across the country that the affected children who have lost their parents should not feel orphans and they are responsibility of Government.
“They are our own children, and we as a society have collective responsibility to take care of them,” the Minister said.
Dr Jitendra Singh further said that the Union Government is committed to good governance, and assured all possible support to these children and all other destitute through various schemes and initiatives launched by the Central Government.
The Minister also witnessed under-19 Inter- Zonal District level finals of different sports events at Sports Stadium Budgam, where he also distributed sports kits and trophies among the participants .
After declaring the games open, the Minister called for proper identification of talent of sports loving youth and their proper training for their better performance in the field.
He urged youth to take part in sports which is now recognized as one of the career options as well.
Later, the Minister inspected various stalls set up by different departments and distributed skill upliftment certificates among deserving beneficiaries. He distributed authority letters and farming equipments among various farmers on the occasion.
During his tour, the Minister also distributed scooties , prosthetic aid to the needy and marriage assistance certificates with Rs 50,000 cheque each to daughters living Below Poverty Line. He said that the Modi Government, on completion of eight years of its service to the nation, is reaching out to the people with the spirit of “Seva” that has been the hallmark of PM Modi’s regime.
Later, various delegations civil society members, traders, youth delegations , political workers and others called on the Minister at Conference Hall Budgam.
They raised their issues and demands with the Minister for prompt redressal.
The Minister gave patient hearing to the delegations and assured that all their genuine demands shall be looked into on priority.
Among others, Chairman DDC Budgam, Nazir Ahmad Khan, DC Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza, SSP Budgam, Tahir Saleem, DDC and BDC Members, president Municipal Council Budgam and district officers were present on the occasion.
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