Srinagar, March 19 (Scoop News) – Asserting that the present government is determined to develop neglected and bad pockets at par with the other parts of the state, senior National Conference leader, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said Rs. 100 crore has been earmarked in the Budget to accelerate the development tempo in hitherto neglected areas, adding that the amount would be over and above the normal plan allocations.
Addressing a convention of party workers at Srinagar today, Rather reaffirmed that government was keen for comprehensive and balanced development and prosperity of all the three regions of the State with emphasis on poor and hitherto neglected and underdeveloped pockets. He said it was for the first time that provision of special funding has been kept in the budget for development of bad pockets of the state.
Describing Panchayats as basic pillars of democracy, Rather asked the people to come forward in a big way for total participation in the ensuing 3-tier Panchayati Raj elections to make Panchayats viable institutions of democracy. Rather called for electing sincere, charactered, honest and competent candidates who could be able to represent them as per their urges and aspirations.
Rather said the elections are being held for 3-tier Panchayati Raj system beginning with elections to halqa Panchayats for 1-tier, for block development councils in 2-tier followed by 3-tier elections for District Planning and Development Boards to give more powers and responsibilities through Panchayats. “The elections would facilitate decentralization of power for people’s practical participation at grass roots level in plan formulation and programme implementation so that they could themselves solve their problems”, Rather added.
Eloborating on government initiatives for tackling with the un-employment problem, the senior NC leader said that J&K is the first state in the country which has come up with a vision document in this regard in the shape of Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) adding that apart from providing maximum possible jobs in public sector, attractive incentives are being offered for setting up of income generating units under self employment and private sectors, he said 30% cost of a unit in the shape of seed capital money is being provided to the entrepreneurs besides imparting training in the relevant field by the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) adding that additional Rs. 25 crore have been earmarked for this purpose in the next year’s budget besides Rs. 40 crore for payment under Voluntary Service Allowance(VSA).
‘About 2000 entrepreneurs have already avail this benefit during the current financial year, Rather said and asked the youth to come forward to venture in this scheme for earning dignified livelihood for them.