JK lady Minister hoisted the National Flag at Kulgam

Kugam/Srinagar,August 15 (Scoop News) – 66th Independence Day was also celebrated with great pomp and show at Kulgam.

Minister for Social Welfare and the Chief Guest, Ms Sakina Itoo unfurled the Tricolour and took Salute on the march past. CRPF, JKP,JKAP, Home Guard, NCC Cadets and other contingents participated in the march past.

Addressing a huge gathering the Minister while congratulating the people, Ms Sakina said, the day remind us the sacrifices made by those thousands men, women and towering personalities like the father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru and Abdul Kalam Azad and Sher-i-Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah for liberating the nation from the clutches of the British rules.

Ms Sakina said that we suffered a lot during the last two decades of turmoil, but now the State of Jammu and Kashmir State yet again has been put on the development track with right direction and now an era of development has been started in the State and State Government has launched massive developmental programmes for the purpose.

Referring 2008 State Assembly Elections, the Minister said that more than 70 percent voters participated and gave a new leaf of live to the Democratic Institutions of the State and PRIS have ben empowered to monitor the functioning of 14 departments.

The Minister said that the Tourism sector is getting priority and many new Tourism Development Authorities have been created for boost the tourism sector in the State, which have great potential for providing employment opportunities to unemployment youths. She said that this year a record number of tourists in lakhs visited the Jammu and Kashmir State including more than six lakh pilgrims who paid obeisance at the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji .

The Minister said the Jammu and Kashmir State after getting the freedom from the autocratic rule witnessed overall development in Education, Infrastructure, Roads, Buildings, Health, Tourism sectors under the dynamic leadership and towering personality of Late. Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah.. She said the State had witnessed significant achievement in the fields of Education, Health, Agriculture, Science and Technology and Social Security, Information Technology and Road infrastructure sectors.

Ms Sakina said that present coalition government under the dynamic leadership of Omar Abdullah during its more than 3 and half years governance have taken a number of steps not only providing a corruption free and delivery of prompt services to the common people by enacting PSGA, RTI, State Vigilance Commission, Accountability Commission to ensure transferency and quick disposal of the cases in a time bound period. She said for providing higher Education on the doors of those aspirants living in far flung and remote areas with resource less, the State government opened 22 new Colleges and Schools.

The Minister said that in road infrastructure sector, the District Kulgam has been upgraded and maximum area has been covered in the road connectivity She said during last three half years rule massive developmental activities have taken place in the State in comparison to last 50 years.

Reaffirming unemployment problem, She said the government has already taken the steps to fill up the vacant vacancies on fast track basis. She said the Sher-i-Kashmir employment and welfare programme for youth is a historical decision and landmark policy document of present government. She said under this scheme, that alone in Kulgam district, more than 7000 un employed youth have been covered on which Rs. 10,000 crore have been incurred annually. She said that 40,000 youths have been provided Government jobs during the last three and half year rule through SSB, District level and various other agencies and the efforts are on to create more employment opportunities.

The Minister said under various Social Welfare Schemes, monthly pension is being provided to more than 5 lakh people of down-trodden and BPL families besides scholarships facilities has been given to more than 2.64 lakh students at pre-matric level up to PH.D belonging to SC, ST and Pahari speaking people. She said for empowering the women the department is running a number of schemes under which soft loans are being providing to them for starting their own income generating units. She said more than 5 lakh kids are being provided nutrition’s and other basic medical facilities at 28000 Aagan Wardi Centres.

She said that more than 200 Bridges and 55 Roads have been constructed besides 9000 Kilometers Roads has been macadamized. She said that more than 1800 new habitants with help of 438 water supply schemes have been provided safe drinking water.

Among others, District Development Commissioner, Jahangir Mir, ADC, Gulzar Ahmed, S.P Kulgam and other district officers were present on the occasion.

On the occasion, the small kids of various Schools and other cultural troupes presented various colourful cultural programmes.

Later the Minister presented awards to the best performers including students and parade contingents in various fields.