Lists achievements, Pledges for transparency & accountability; skill dev and Jobs; completion of projects; health care, water and Power supplies, equitable Tourism and infrastructural development, village empowerment etc.
Jammu Tawi, Jan 25
The Lt Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Administration, Mr. G C Murmu in his first address to the people of newly carved Union Territory on the eve of 71st Republic Day said that Administration will further augment its efforts for ‘Good Governance' and focus on the people-centric and development-oriented work culture introduced earlier during the stints of Governor and President Rule.
‘We will take more measures to ensure that government is run in a rule based manner with no arbitrariness or delays. Accountability will be ensured at all levels. The primary duty of government employees is public service and this will be ensured.” LG assured the people.
Terming the last 1½ years as transformative for Jammu and Kashmir in many ways, Murmu said a lot has to be done on the development front. Listing the achievements, LG said that Implementation of Prime Ministers Development Programme (PMDP) has been accelerated as compared to the previous 3 years. Work has begun on the two AIIMSs, IIT, IIM, tourism projects, Jammu Ring Road, Akhnoor Road, Chenani – Sudh Mahadev road, Pakal Dul and Kiru hydropower projects, power transmission and distribution projects, Smart Cities, Dal lake, Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project, jobs and houses for Kashmiri migrants, and rehabilitation of Displaced Persons from POK and Chamb. Many of these are either fully or almost complete such as the two big stadiums in Jammu & Srinagar, raising 4 new police battalions, improving healthcare infrastructure in districts, flyover in Srinagar and the first phase of the Jhelum flood management program. JTFRP, where expenditures were less than 1% in July 2018, now has 85% projects awarded and under implementation. This demonstrates the seriousness with which work is being done.
On languishing projects, the JKIDFC has delivered remarkably. Projects as old as 25 years are being completed rapidly with almost 50% of the 2,263 projects approved to be completed by March 2020 and most of the rest by March 2021. The impact of this in terms of bridges, roads, drinking water supply schemes, sports facilities and healthcare infrastructure is visible on the ground.
Many other iconic projects have also moved ahead. The long pending Shahpur Kandi project on Ravi is under construction and will irrigate 32,000 ha by 2023. The Ratle and Kiru projects will generate almost 1500 MW of power in 5 years. The Ujh project, which is in the final stages of sanction, will irrigate another 32,000 hectares.
We should soon get a gas pipeline to Jammu and then going to Srinagar. We will build 2,000 km roads under PMGSY by March, 2020. Two metro transit projects in Jammu and Srinagar have been finalized and the Elevated Light Rail Systems here will revolutionise the urban landscape of the two capital cities. The Metropolitan Region Development Authorities in Jammu & Srinagar, covering over 2,000 sq kms each, have finalized large regional development plans with over 100,000 units of new housing in a modern, metropolitan environment. Two iconic IT Towers are being built in Srinagar and Jammu which will generate thousands of jobs and also be a landmark on the skyline of the cities.
The Dal-Nageen lakes are being revived to their pristine glory through a multipronged approach including construction of a western foreshore road, developing Dole Demb and three locations for houseboats with bio-digesters, modern STPs for affluent treatment and beautification of the water front.
We have a responsibility to make these new decentralized structures succeed. Government will establish Digital Village Centers (DVCs) at Gram Panchayats across Jammu and Kashmir equipped with IT infrastructure and connectivity. The second Phase of “Back to Village” (B2V2) Programme was successfully conducted from 25th to 30th November, 2019, to assess the functionality of Panchayati Raj Institutions and follow up on B2V held earlier in May.
The 74th Constitutional Amendment strengthens Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and devolves power to them. ULBs are being strengthened by devolving and decentralization of powers and responsibilities. Following the ULB elections, these bodies have received Rs. 1,180 Crore grants so far and will get Rs. 1,335 Crore more. These empowered bodies are going to be the institutions which will transform the urban landscape.
36 Union Ministers visited Jammu and Kashmir last week and undertook extensive tours of districts covering 60 different locations. The outreach programme covered five themes, viz., delivering development in President's Rule and thereafter, 100% coverage of 55 beneficiary oriented schemes, infrastructure development, good governance and rule of law with equality of opportunity to all and rapid industrial and economic growth in all sectors with a focus on incomes and employment. We have sanctioned over 1.3 lakh new pension cases in the last year.
Jammu and Kashmir is prone to a variety of natural calamities. The untimely snowfall in November and the rains in December, 2019 have caused losses to farmers. Adequate funds have been kept with DCs to provide relief to affected farmers and people. To strengthen winter response, new equipment such as 22 Bulldozers, 16 Snow Plough Machines and 4 sophisticated Snow Cutter Machines have been procured.
Power is a crying need in Jammu and Kashmir, more so in winter. We have unbundled the Power Department into 5 companies, while protecting the interests of existing employees. This will improve the power scenario gradually.
The health system has been a stellar performer in the last year. 7 new medical colleges will lead to doubling the number of seats. We have approved creation of over 1000 posts at Ayurveda College Akhnoor, at Unani College Ganderbal, at New Pediatrics Hospital, Bemina, at Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience-Kashmir and at New Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Jammu and Kashmir is a leader in Ayushman Bharat with 57% of families having a Gold Card.
The agriculture, horticulture and animal & sheep husbandry sectors are vital for generating livelihoods for over 70% of our people. The Market Intervention Scheme for apples ensured that a minimum price for apple farmers was maintained and apple trade got restarted even under militant threats and action. E-platforms are being established at Srinagar and Jammu. New Mandis are being set up and we have plans of reforming the Mandi system. 25 CA Stores with storage capacity of 1.17 Lakh MTs have been set up in the private sector. The Saffron Mission projects will be completed this year to enhance saffron productivity and production.
Jammu and Kashmir intends to be a leader under the Jal Jeevan Mission for providing piped water supply (Har Ghar Nal se Jal) to every household. We will complete the work in 7 districts this year itself and the rest in 2021. The procurement systems of PHE department have been revamped for this purpose. DCs have prepared district-wise Water Security Plans in consultation with Panchayats.
Education and Skill Development are critical for making our youth employable. In 2019, we approved 52 new Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir and created 572 posts for them. We will establish 10 new professional colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. Each college shall be mapped with ITIs and Polytechnic for skill training. Super 50 classes were established in 10 districts with an intake capacity of 100 students per centre to coach students for professional entrance examination. Further, over 29,000 children of nomadic population were provided teaching facility in 1,378 Seasonal Centers. The conversion of over 36,000 ReTs as regular teachers is an enviable achievement.
On the pilgrimage tourism side, Sudhmahadev and Mantalai are being developed as important pilgrimage tourist destinations. Infrastructure at Dargah Hazratbal is underway. Around 40 cafeteria-cum-public conveniences are being set up at various locations. The illumination work of the Tulip garden stands completed and the musical fountains in Dal Lake are a treat to watch. We intend to revamp the tourism set up to make it effective and efficient. In addition to existing locations, we will promote new destinations in both Kashmir and Jammu provinces. There will be a separate session on tours and travels and tourism in the ensuing Investors Summit.
Government has begun providing 26 Government to Citizen (G2C) online services of 9 Departments. In addition, digitization of office records of departments is being done through a robust Document Management System (DMS) by adopting best industrial standards and quality checks.
The Forest department launched an integrated plantation initiative called “Green J&K Drive” under which over 20 Lakh plants have been planted so far with a target of 50 lakh plants.
An independent Registration Department for registration of deeds & documents has been set up with 67 sub-registrars and necessary staff. The objective is to provide ‘speedy, efficient and transparent services' to people ‘close to their doorsteps'.
A curtain raiser was successfully organized in New Delhi few days ago to woo the potential investors. A new Industrial Policy 2020 for Large & Mega Units and for MSMEs has been prepared with 14 sectoral policies in the pipeline and with a list of ready to invest projects. The future of Jammu and Kashmir lies in attracting high quality investment which can create jobs for our youth.
On Mission for Youth, the areas of intervention would include livelihood generation/skill development, education, skill development, financial assistance, sports including setting up sports leagues, recreation, counselling & therapy, and handholding support. The initiative will set up one-stop shops for our youth and enable them to lead productive lives.
We will ensure recruitments are done in a transparent manner with a level playing field, giving opportunity to local youth. The reservation policy will be rationalized. All this will be done with a proper legal backing and recruitments will be resumed soon.
On restrictions, he said that these were necessary owing to the problems being created and propaganda from across the border. Our priority was that there should be no bloodshed which we have achieved. Out of 2014 sanctioned posts for 2 Women Police Battalions, the process of recruitment against 1350 direct recruit posts is in progress. Besides, out of 2014 posts sanctioned for 2 Border Battalions, the process of recruitment against 1350 direct recruit posts is in progress.
Murmu asked people to come forward and supplement the initiatives of the Government to bring J&K on path of rapid growth and development.
