* No proposal for automatic promotion of students
Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Nov 24: To give fillip to the on-going relief and rehabilitation operations in the flood-hit areas, the State Government has released an amount of Rs 1000 crore through Special Plan Assistance (SPA) under the annual plan of the current financial year (2014-15).
This was revealed in the affidavit filed by the State Government today in the Apex Court before the Bench headed by Chief Justice, H L Dattu while responding to a writ petition.
The affidavit, which is in possession of EXCELSIOR says, “the Planning and Development Department vide order no. 138-PD of 2014 dated November 12, this year has released an amount of Rs 1000 crore through SPA”, adding, “the amount is to be utilized for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in the State”.
“The amount is to be specifically utilized for nine projects and proper authorisation has been obtained from the Planning Department in this context”, says the document.
Further, in another initiative aimed to provide relief to thousands of families, whose houses were damaged in the devastation that struck the State, the affidavit says, “the State Executive Committee of the Relief operations headed by Chief Secretary has reviewed the status of large number of families, whose houses were fully damaged and several of these families were living in tents”.
“In view of the approaching winter season, the Committee has decided to reimburse rent for four months in favour of such families, who have been compelled to shift to rented accommodation”, says the affidavit adding, “instruction in this regard stand conveyed to both the divisions vide communication No. Rev/ER/34/2014 dated November 21, 2014”.
Responding to the submission of petitioner, Ms Vasundhara favouring automatic promotion to students studying upto class Xth, the State Government has clarified, “there is no proposal of the State Government for automatic promotion of the children studying in 1st to 10th standard without holding examination”.
“The State Government would only stick to its earlier decision for postponement of the annual examination from primary classes upto Higher Secondary Part II classes in Government/Private Schools of Kashmir Division and winter zone of Jammu Division to March 2015 instead of October 2014”, sources said adding, “in view of the damage caused due to recent floods to the infrastructure of school buildings and loss of learning material in the flood affected areas of the State, the State Government vide Cabinet decision No. 171/13/2014 dated October 10, 2014 had implemented this decision”.
Refuting the allegation of Prof Bhim Singh that the State Government hasn’t constituted the State Disaster Management Committee, Government said, “vide SRO -138 of 2007 dated April 23, 2007, the State framed the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Rules, 2007 under Section 78 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Central Act). Under rule 7 of the said rules, the Government constituted the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) headed by the Chief Minister, Similarly, under Rule 6 of the said rules, the State Executive Committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been constituted”.
Elaborating on the major decisions taken by the SDMA and the State Executive Committee, the reply says, “Rs 957 crore were sanctioned by the Executive Committee from time to time after September 4 for meeting the expenditure on account of carrying out of relief and rescue operations and also for restoration of public utilities. Out of the sanctioned amount, Rs 389.50 crores were released for affected areas of Jammu province and Rs 404.5 crores for the affected areas of Kashmir Valley, from time to time”.
Referring to the Rs 41,000 crore package being sought by the State Government, the Additional Solicitor General Tushar Metha submitted before the bench, which also comprised Justice A K Sikri that an appropriate decision would be taken soon by the Centre.
“Union Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission would scrutinise all the details submitted by the State Government and take a decision as early as possible”, said the statement filed by the Additional Solicitor General.
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