Jammu,January 25 (Vijay Kumar) – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday while asked the militants to shun violence and come to dialogue table to resolve issues amicably.He said that dialogue is the only means to address the problems and solve issues in a conducive atmosphere.
In his Re-public Day address to the people of Jammu and Kashmir State, Chief Minister while reminding the militants of the devastating effects of futile gun culture during last 20 years resulting large scale bloodshed and destruction without any result, He expressed hope that a better sense will prevail and militants will drop guns forever. “This will be in their larger interest and the interest of the people”, he said. “Nothing has so for either been achieved or will be achieved in future by the bloodshed.”
Omar said that his Government would continue its efforts to help restore both internal and external talks. “We will act as a facilitator in the dialogue process between all groups of opinion in the State and the Centre, besides working for restoration of Indo-Pak composite talks”, he maintained.
Chief Minister said that the task to seek betterment and bright future for youth has been taken by him as a challenge, as such, the focus of the Government is to achieve this stupendous goal. “I have recognized technology and young people the two important aspects on which the development and prosperity of a nation is dependent. It is for this fact that I have flagged both as important concerns having co-relation”, he said maintaining that among many other measures the formulation and announcement of Sher-i-Kashmir Welfare Programme for Youth is the vanguard initiative in this direction.
Omar said that the announcement of comprehensive employment policy for youth by his government has been the path breaking step in the 60 years’ history of Jammu and Kashmir. The policy envisages creation of lacks of jobs for youth including one lakh jobs in the government sector. He said his government has provided employment to about 21000 youth in various government departments during the past year and another 20000 jobs are in the pipeline. “Despite financial constraints, my government has implemented 6th Pay Commission, enhancing the salaries of government employees”, he said adding that more than 6500 adhoc and contractual employees are being regularized, besides raising the daily rates of daily wagers from Rs 70 to Rs 110.
Omar said that the work to upgrade 5 sectors of power, water supply, road communication, education and healthcare, flagged as focussed areas of attention by his government, is going apace. “Under the power sector, about 2700 MW of power is being generated in the State during next five years to relieve the people from the problem of load shedding”, he said and added that he has also approved 93 MWs new Ganderbal, 240 MWs Kirthai and 450 MWs Baghliar phase-II. The generation of another 1800 MWs through other projects is also in the offing.
He said that during the last year 1.50 crore gallons of drinking water has been added in the PHE system in Jammu and Srinagar while as several other water supply schemes have been completed in towns and villages. “I am also focussing on upgradation of road communication system in the State and construction of inter district and inter provincial roads. The completion of Mughal Road and my travel on the road has realized the dream of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah about connecting Jammu with Kashmir through the historic Mughal road”. He said he has recently approved 4.5 kms tunnel to connect Kishtwar with Anantnag.
CM said that by getting two Central Universities for Jammu and Kashmir, his Government has created a record. Under the skills development programme to enhance employability of youth, he said 5 new ITUIs and 18 Polytechnic colleges are being established in the State while as more 50 ITIs and 140 skills development Centres are in the pipeline. He said the Government is also opening an Ayurvadic College in Jammu and Unani College at Srinagar, besides providing required equipment and staff to the health institutions. “We have also created 5500 posts in the Health Department to cater to the needs in hospitals in the rural areas.
Omar said that his Government has succeeded in receiving highest ever annual plan of Rs 550 crore for the current financial year besides getting Rs 1200 crores under PP. He said that in order to transfer power to people at grass roots, his government is determined to conduct Panchayat and local bodies’ elections in the State soon. “This would, at the one hand provide opportunities to the public representatives at Panchayat and Municipality levels, and on the other also help to curb corruption to a large extent”, he said adding that the year 2010 will be the year of eradication of corruption in the State at all the levels.
Omar said that he has underlined close rapport with general masses as most important aspect of his governance, as such he has made holding of ‘awami mulaqats’ (open public interaction session) at district level and constant meetings with people and deputations almost as a routine affair. “The creation of Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell to keep myself available to people 24 hours is yet another initiatives I have taken”, he said, adding that he personally monitors the Cell. He asked the people to take best advantage of this medium to communicate their grievances to him so that action is taken for their redressal.