JK Governor for maintaining constant vigil along frontiers

Jammu, January 26 (Scoop News) –     N. N. Vohra, Governor, has observed that adversary elements operating from across the borders have not given up their malicious resolve to disturb and destabilise our country and said that the Security Forces must maintain constant vigil along the frontiers.

      After hoisting the tricolour at the State level function on the occasion of the 63rd Republic Day, at Maulana Azad Stadium, here this morning, the Governor said that the State Police, Central Police Organisations and the Army have continued to brave all odds to safeguard the territorial integrity of the State. He said that their devotion and commitment has led to a progressive decline in infiltration from across the Line of Control and consequent reduction in terrorism related incidents. He lauded the brave officers and men of the Security Forces and paid homage to the gallant soldiers who laid down their lives for the country. 

      Extending warm greetings and good wishes to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the joyous occasion of the Republic Day, the Governor said that on this memorable day, we must pay homage to the great national leaders who made many sacrifices and carried out a prolonged struggle to secure freedom for our country.

      The Governor said that in the past over six decades, despite serious challenges and constraints, our country has been able to achieve commendable progress in varied arenas. He said that, today, India stands out for the strength of its growing economy and for its vibrant democracy, which is the largest in the world.

      The Governor said that the disturbed situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the past years has adversely affected its growth and development. Nonetheless, the average annual growth rate and the year to year growth in tax collections have shown positive trends in the past four years. The level of capital expenditure has also been progressively increasing and is of about Rs. 8,000 crore during the current financial year. He said that after the turmoil faced in the preceding three summers, the spurt of economic activity during 2011 clearly demonstrated that progress can be achieved only when normalcy prevails. The stable environment during the past year attracted nearly one crore and twenty lakh pilgrims and tourists to visit the State, including over thirty two thousand foreigners.

      Reiterating that development and growth can take place only in an environment of normalcy and peace, the Governor said that agitations and confrontations have already caused enormous human and economic losses and the recurring disruption of the educational system at all levels has done irreparable damage to the career prospects of our youth. He appealed to the leaders of all political parties, social, cultural and religious organisations, and all other segments of society, in the three regions of the State, to join ranks for the resolution of all remaining issues through dialogue and discussion.

      The Governor observed that the prolonged period of militancy adversely affected the development process and the generation of job opportunities which are required for absorbing the growing number of our qualified youth. The State Government has launched a programme for enabling the unemployed youth to establish projects in identified sectors of the State economy. The Government of India have launched fully funded programmes under which about one and a half lakh youth of the State will be imparted training and skills to become employable in the private sector, across the country, over the next five years.

  Referring to the arena of higher education, the Governor said that the State has seven Universities and two important technology training institutions. Two new Central Universities and over a hundred new colleges, ITIs and Polytechnics are presently in the process of getting established. There are also nearly 250 privately run educational institutions in the State which are affiliated to our Universities. Significant expansion and upgradation is also taking place at the school level, both in the public and private sectors. He said that the State Government has to meet the serious challenge of ensuring that the quality of instruction to be imparted in the fast expanding network of education and training institutions in the State is of such standard as would equip our youth to successfully compete at the national and global levels.

      The Governor said that as per the last Census, the literacy rate has improved to 68%. He said that high importance must be given to enhance the spread of literacy, devoting particular attention to the advancement of female literacy. Side by side, the drop out rate at the Primary and Upper Primary levels and the number of “out of school” children must continue to be reduced till every child goes to school.

      He said that sustained attention must be given to ensure the effective implementation of the various health schemes to secure progressive improvement in all the health indicators. Side by side, stringent measures must be taken to eliminate female foeticide for moving towards the restoration of gender balance, he said.

      Referring to the Power sector, the Governor observed that the acute shortage of power has continued to adversely affect the economic development of the State. The very high transmission and distribution losses and the poor recovery of dues from the electricity consumers have created further problems. He said while the enactment of the Energy Conservation Act and the functioning of Electricity Regulatory Authority are positive developments it is extremely important that new power projects are launched very early and Power sector reforms are carried out on a time bound basis. 

      The Governor said, “In the past years, the productivity of the Agriculture sector, which remains a vital element of the State’s economy, has not increased at an optimum pace for a number of reasons. The State Agriculture Production Department and the two State Farm Universities must work more closely together for enhancing productivity, particularly of the rain-fed areas, bringing about diversification of farm based activities, and promoting intensive application of appropriate techniques and technologies for the modernisation of agricultural practices.” He said that it is heartening to know that several recent initiatives, particularly in regard to seed replacement and timely fertiliser supplies, have led to an increase in the production of rice and maize last year and an increase in wheat production is expected this year.

          The Governor observed that J&K is a large State.  It is important that well planned projects are implemented on a time bound basis to provide safe drinking water and electricity to the villages and construction of roads and bridges to connect hamlets, particularly all the habitations in the remote and difficult areas of the State. The Mughal Road is expected to be completed shortly and two major tunnels are under construction to reduce the distance between Jammu and Srinagar. The Railways project and the 4-laning of the National Highway, two Central projects costing over Rs. 30,000 crore, are also making progress. It is in the State’s interest to ensure that there is no delay whatsoever in the timely implementation of all the projects which shall enhance physical connectivity and lead to the development of distant and difficult areas.

      The Governor thanked the Government of India for its sustained interest in the early resolution of the various problems facing the State and for the abundant assistance which is being provided for rebuilding the State’s economy and strengthening its infrastructure.

      The Governor wished the people of the State good health, prosperity and happiness in 2012. He wished the Chief Minister, and all members of his Council of Ministers, high success in their future endeavours and urged them to re-dedicate themselves today to work unitedly to build Jammu and Kashmir into a strong, cohesive and prosperous State.

www.scoopnews.in