Rajouri/Jammu,November 23 (News Desk/Scoop News) –National Conference President and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday while asserting that panchayats have been given powers in the J&K state,said that full empowerment of these institutions is imperative to make them excellent centers of Public delivery services and the state government under the leaderip of Omar Abdullah is committed to strengthen the three tier Panchayati Raj in Jammu & Kamir state.
Dr. Farooq while addressing a party workers convention here, said that efficient Panchayat Raj has a direct bearing on good governance. “Strong Panchayats lead to a powerful Government” he said, adding that officers have to listen to panchs and Sarpanchs for they are public representatives . ‘Power flows from the people’ he said.
“We announced panchayat elections last year and held elections this year”, Dr. Abdullah said adding these institutions were also given powers after they were elected through massive participation. “At every stage the opposition voiced skepticism but we succeeded in keeping our promises made with the people”, he maintained and all do so in the future as well, he promised.
Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Industries and Commerce, S.S. Slathia, Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana, Vice Chairman Advisory Board for Pahari Speaking People Peer Mutaq Ahmed Bukhari, Vice Chairman Advisory Board for Development of Kissans Kr. Rachpal Singh, Provincial President, National Conference Rattan Lal Gupta were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Abdullah said that his party is pursuing for removal of AFSPA from the areas where peace has returned, adding AFSPA will be removed gradually in view of perceptible improvement in the security scenario in the State.
Advising party activists to unite in the interest of party, Dr Abdullah said that unity is strength. He said nobody other than political detractors gain from the differences at the grass-root level. Dr. Abdullah said that the coalition with Congress is strong and going smooth. He urged the party workers to ensure that the bonds between the two political parties are strengthened at grass root level as well. He said “we have joined hands with the Congress for the welfare of the people of the state and together the two parties are working for the betterment of the state”.
Taking a dig at the PDP, Dr Abdullah said PDP and its leaderip is habitual in churning out propaganda to hoodwink people and they believe in politics of deceit and lies. He said the edifice of lies has no roots and collapses under its own weight. Dr. Abdullah asserted the false propaganda unleaed by the PDP cannot eclipse the performance of the coalition government by perpetuating lies and making baseless allegations.
The Union Minister laed out at those who are out to criticize every and all pro-people policy and steps being taken by the present government. He said propaganda laed by certain political players has neither logic nor any basis to stand on.
Dr. Abdullah said new employment policy of Omar led coalition Government is aimed at expanding the employment orbit. He said it is better to recruit 50 educated youth instead of 10 by every logic and reasoning, bruing aside criticism leveled by opposition on this account. He said RET scheme launched by his Government way back in late 90s was also criticized in the beginning, adding time had proved that the scheme helped in opening closed schools and increasing employment avenues. He said in every village of the State locals were put on job that not only generated employment but also gave considerable phillip to literacy. Dr. Abdullah said the new recruitment policy is based on the same pattern and logic, Dr Abdullah said and hoped that the scheme will pick up in near future.
Urging people to avail the benefits of renewable energy schemes, the Union Minister asked Panches and Sarpanchs to identify villages which could be covered under these programmes. He said Centre Government is extending liberal funding to popularize these schemes providing subsidy ranging up to 90 percent. He asked the people to use solar water system instead of power heating system so that electricity is spared for its extension to uncovered areas. He said one thousand people are availing this facility in Ladakh and the trend is on rise.
The NC president said it was his government in the nineties which introduced Cocoon rearing in Nowera areas, which he said was grown into a potential economic activity fetching the farmers good return.
Dr Farooq said vast meadows and ideal climate and geographical terrain also call for eep and goat rearing. He said State is importing mutton worth Rs. 1200 crore annually. This money, he said, could be diverted towards Rajouri and Poonch and other similar geographic locations. The need is to rear eep and goats using modern breeding and rearing techniques which he said will help to prevent capital flight outside of the State.
Dr Abdullah said that er-e-Kamir’s dream project of Mughal road has been constructed. He said efforts are on to open up Rajouri- Poonch tourism to generate economic activities on a large scale. He said famous handicrafts like Chikri woodwork and blankets produced in these areas would emerge as potential and profitable ventures for the local youth producing employment on a large scale. He said historic Chingus spot and many other attractive destinations will find attract tourists to these areas.