Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 6: National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah today said that National Conference has been the hallmark of development and prosperity in the State and would continue to steer J&K towards economic growth and progress.
Speaking to numerous delegations of public and party workers at NC Headquarters at Nawa-e-Subah Complex in Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference has rendered its services to the common masses through the ups and downs of history and has never absolved itself of the role of being the bulwark that protects the political, social, cultural and economic interests of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the Omar Abdullah led Government had made huge strides in areas of infrastructural development and economic growth in the last five and a half years, in line with NC’s glorious, unquestionable track-record of working relentlessly for the interests of the common-man.
Stating that while the growth rate of the economy at the national level had declined to 5 percent in the past, the growth rate of J&K’s economy had crossed 7 percent during the same time, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that Industries, Commerce, Health-infrastructure and Education sector had seen remarkable growth during the last five and a half years. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of J&K rose continuously during the last five and a half years. The GSDP at constant prices has increased from Rs. 34,664 crore in 2008-2009 to Rs. 42,878 crore in 2012-2013 representing a growth of 23 percent and indicating a strong resurgence of the State’s economy. At Current Prices, the GSDP has risen from Rs. 42,315 crore in 2008-09 to Rs. 75,574 crore in 2012-13.
He said that facts speak loud and clear about NC’s performance in lifting the State out of the economic mess and duress that PDP had managed to land the State in during its tenure that was rife with rampant corruption, instability and institutional decay. Dr. Farooq said the State’s Per-Capita Income at Constant Prices has increased from Rs. 25,641 in 2008-09 to Rs. 30,222 crore in 2012-2013 thereby registering an increase of around 18 percent. He said that at Current Prices the PCI is up from Rs. 30,212 in 2008-09 to Rs. 51,458 in 2012-13.
He while interacting with various public delegations, prominent citizens and party activists said that a Capital Expenditure of over Rs.10,000 crore has been made in J&K in sectors of Health Care, Education, Power, Roads, Irrigation and Tourism in the last five years and the Government had approved the creation of thousands of posts in different government departments in the last five years to go in tandem with creation of new infrastructure.
He said that the Omar Abdullah led Government had initiated 455 major road projects and 265 bridges in the State to ensure better connectivity of far flung areas that used to be inaccessible or poorly-accessible in the past. Around 10,000 kilometers of new roads were constructed, 15,000 kilometers of roads blacktopped and 19,000 kilometers of roads shingled in the last five years. In addition to this 25 major road schemes were completed under CRF and 709 road schemes were completed under PMGSY, besides numerous interior and link-roads being constructed across the length and breadth of the State.
Stating that job-creation to tackle the issue of unemployment has been a major priority for the State Government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, National Conference President said that around one lakh jobs were provided to the youth in the past and the State Government is in the process of fast-tracking the filing of around 50,000 posts through various recruitment agencies in the State.
He asked party colleagues and senior workers to remain accessible and available to the public at all times and continue to selflessly serve the interests of the common-man in line with the highest traditions of public-service that has been a hallmark of National Conference right from its inception under the leadership of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
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