J&K CM for war against corruption

        Jammu, February 26 (Scoop News) –  Soliciting unconditional and whole hearted support from people in general and youth in particular to help curb the corruption in the State, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday said that war against this menace tops his list of priorities in the year 2011.

        “My first target is the smaller corruptions in the form of bribes for ration cards, driving licenses, state subjects, mutation and land papers, death and birth certificates, registration of vehicles, etc”, he said and elaborated that these are corruptions of smaller magnitude but their impact is vast on the society.

        “Corruption is a two-way traffic. While my government is determined to book the receiver, general people have the responsibility to refuse the payment of bribes”, he asserted and highlighted the role of youth in this regard.

        The Chief Minister was replying questions of students from various universities at an interaction session at Jammu University here on the concluding day of ‘Virasat-e-Riyasat’ festival. he said that maintenance of peace and eradication of corruption figure on the top of his priority list this year.

        In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said that government is actively persuading Centre for granting scheduled tribe status to Pahari speaking people and he is shortly taking up this matter with the Prime Minister. “The demand is pending for a long time now and we wish the Government of India responds positively in this matter”, he added.

        Responding to a question on enhancing the seed money under SKEWPY, the Chief Minister said that with the popularization of the scheme government is open to consider this aspect. “If this aspect would give boost to the government’s endeavours to encourage entrepreneurship in the State and make qualified young persons’ to start independent livelihood ventures government would consider it appropriately”, he told the students.

        Omar said that government alone is not capable to absorb the huge number of unemployed youth. “We have to harness other means for the purpose and entrepreneurship sector is the most effective one in this direction”, he added and enumerated endeavours of the government to encourage educated youth to venture in agriculture and allied sector for earning respectable livelihood and helping in the growth of State’s economy.

        On holding of the cultural festival ‘Virasat-e-Reyasat’ organized by Jammu University and participated by all the Universities of the State, the Chief Minister said that the event should be annual feature and be held in rotation by all the universities. “Yes, I would like this kind of cultural activity, showcasing the State’s pluralistic characteristic, heritage diversity and rich ethos of traditional brotherhood, to be a permanent feature in the academic calendar of universities”, he said adding that government would provide every help to the institutions of higher learnings in this regard.

        The Chief Minister said that politics has polluted the excellent atmosphere of mutual brotherhood and cultural amity of the State. “We have to chip back to our traditions and harmonious traits, we enjoyed and nurtured for centuries”, he said and urged the students to showcase Jammu and Kashmir’s unity in diversity in every area through such festivals and tie the bonds of mutual trust, understanding and communal harmony.

        on a question about Poonch Campus at Jammu University, the Chief Minister said that his government is committed to the growth and development of all Satellite Campuses opened in the State. However, he said that he would like these Campuses to be develop as the centres of excellence and seats of modern studies.

        Omar Abdullah told the students of Kargil and Leh in reply to their question about opening of Campuses in these districts, that the land has been identified and handed over to Kashmir University for the purpose. “The Campuses would come up in these Districts soon”, he said.

        In reply to a question regarding privatization of power sector in the State, Omar Abdullah said that unbundling of generation sector is not as tedious as Transmission and Distribution(T&D) sector. “We have concentrated on roping in private sector in the generation field as a vanguard step to give necessary fillip to the hydro electric generation”, he said stating that unbundling of T&D is the ultimate goal of the government.

        “I would like to have a full day of free interaction session with the students to deliberate upon all aspects including politics and share views along with receiving their viewpoints”, he said after reply various questions on culture, development, education, employment, etc.

        The students from Kashmir University, Jammu University, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, Mata Vaishno Devi University, Islamic University of Sciences and Technology, Awantipora, SKUAST, Jammu participated in the interaction session and the cultural bonanza present during the festival days.

        The Chief Minister appreciated the students for presenting enthralling cultural programmes and drama skits highlighting the pluralistic heritage of the State.

The Chief Minister presented awards to the participants and trophies to the universities for extra-ordinary performance in the festival. The Jammu University bagged the best trophy for overall performance.

Minster for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, Vice-Chancellors of all the Universities of the State, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion filling the Zorawar Auditorium in Jammu University to its full capacity. The event was marked by the direct interaction session between the Chief Minister and the students transcending the routine speeches making tradition by dignitaries and others on such occasions.

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