Jammu, February 23 (Scoop News) – Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, N. N. Vohra today addressed the Joint session of state legislature.
In his address, he said that in January this year, the Government completed half of its term in office. This milestone is as much an occasion to reflect upon past achievements, as it is to plan for the effective realization of goals that the Government has set out to achieve.
Vohra said the Government had set its vision for the evolution of an inclusive society and an inclusive economy, founded on equitable distribution of the State’s resources and we have been working earnestly to actualize this vision.
He said a continuing priority of the Government is to bring governance closer to the people by empowering the local self-governing institutions. The election of 4,128 Sarpanches and 29,707 Panches for the Panchayats, covering 143 Rural Development Blocks, with a voter turnout of 79%, has been a matter of great satisfaction. It vindicates the Government’s conviction that the people of this State are now looking for development and progress through democratic means, having seen so much of human and economic loss caused by continuing violence.
“In keeping with its commitment, the Government has commenced the process for securing the functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the flow of resources to them. For the complete establishment of the Three-tier Panchayati Raj System in the State the process of elections to the Block Development Councils has been initiated, which will be followed by elections to the District Planning and Development Boards”, he added.
He said the J&K Accountability Commission Act has been amended to restrict its jurisdiction to the Ministers and the Members of the State Legislature. With the appointment of its Chairman and a Member, the Commission has become functional. After carrying out the required amendments in the State Vigilance Commission Act, the process of appointment of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners has also been initiated.
He said that another major focus for the Government has been to reform the administrative apparatus for providing prompt and effective delivery of public services. After the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act, 2011, 45 different services, concerning the functioning of six departments, have been notified to ensure time bound service delivery to the people.
He said the following a policy of zero tolerance towards both terrorism and human rights violations, Government will continue to maintain utmost vigil in the area of internal security. It is a matter for considerable satisfaction that, with the maintenance of peace and calm during summer 2011 a record number of tourists visited the Valley. The number of pilgrims to Shri Amarnath Ji and Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Yatras also recorded all time high figures, being over 6.3 lacs and 100 lacs, respectively.
The Governor further said that last year, the educational institutions across the Valley functioned normally, and a number of youth exchange programmes and sports activities were also conducted. Trade and business, which had suffered severe losses on account of the disturbances in the past years, also showed signs of recovery. As the security situation stabilised, the government took steps to reduce the visible presence of the Security Forces, particularly in the urban areas. 3 CRPF Battalions were de-inducted, a good number of security bunkers removed from Srinagar city and 52 buildings in the State, which have been got vacated from the Security Forces, have become available for normal use.
The Governor said recognizing that government employees are major stakeholders in the developmental process. Despite the financial implication of Rs. 4200 crore, Government announced full payment of pay revision arrears to the State Government employees in five annual installments of twenty per cent each. It is expected that the employees shall discharge their duties with dedication and honesty and ensure efficient service delivery to the people of the State.
He said that Government secured the highest ever Annual Plan of Rs. 6600 crore for the current financial year, from the Planning Commission of India. This Plan was supplemented by an additional provision of Rs. 1200 crore under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP). With adequate counterpart funding provisions in the State Plan, the Government could utilise Centrally Sponsored Schemes in much greater measure. On the recommendations of the Special Task Force, a sum of Rs. 250 crore was provided from the State Plan as a one-time special grant to make up the development deficits in the Jammu and Ladakh regions. We are grateful to the Central Government, particularly the Prime Minister and the Chairperson of the UPA, for their sensitive recognition of the special developmental requirements of the State.
The Governor said in order to provide better living conditions to Kashmiri migrants, Government undertook, with financial assistance from the Government of India, the development of the Jagti township, near Nagrota, which comprises 4224 two room apartments. This colony has roads, water supply, electricity, drainage, parks, two schools, three community halls and one medical centre. Of the 3504 apartments already completed, 3259 stand allotted. The construction of the remaining apartments will be completed in the current year.
He said that the Government remains committed to the return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley. In a major step aimed at their return and rehabilitation in the Valley, 3000 supernumerary posts were created under the Prime Minister’s Package for their employment in the Valley, in different departments. Following their selection, appointment orders in respect of 1922 candidates were issued, of whom 1431 have already joined their posts in various parts of the Valley.