Shah chairs meet on J&K with NSA, R&AW, IB, CRPF Chiefs

New Delhi, June 18: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting with top officials in Delhi to review development projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

Those who attended the meeting included National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar, R&AW chief Samant Kumar Goel, CRPF Director General Kuldeep Singh and J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh.

During the meeting, Amit Shah said, “All-round development and welfare of people of Jammu and Kashmir are the top priority of the Modi government.”

Amit Shah congratulated the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, and his team for the vaccination drive having reached 76% of the target in Jammu and Kashmir and 100% in the four districts of the Union Territory.

The Union Home Minister also asked authorities to ensure that the farmers of J&K get the benefits of the PM Kisan Yojana, Kisan Credit Card and other farmer-friendly schemes. He also asked the officials to ensure the benefits of the industrial policy reach the small-scale industries.

“Arrangements should be made for the training of new Panchayat members and they should be made to visit the most developed Panchayats across the country,” added Amit Shah.

He also asked officials to ensure refugees get the benefits of the refugee package as soon as possible. Promoting agriculture and setting up agro-based industries in UT were also key points of the meeting.

Manoj Sinha also met Amit Shah at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi.

“For strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, Amit Shah directed officials to immediately organize training for the members, making proper sitting arrangements for them and providing equipment and other resources to the personnel for smooth functioning of these bodies. Along with this, he also directed the Panchayat members to visit various parts of the country, so that they can get information about the working of developed Panchayats of the country,” the officials said, adding that “Union Home Minister also stressed on increasing the scope of MGNREGA to provide employment to more and more people. At the same time, he spoke about the use of modern techniques in agriculture to increase the income of the farmers and to set up at least one agro-based industry in each district. He also said that work should be done to increase the quality and density of apple production in Jammu and Kashmir, so that apple growers will receive maximum price for the crop.”

Officials said that the Union Home Minister directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure that all farmers are provided benefits of schemes being implemented for farmers, such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana, under which Rs. 6000/- is deposited annually directly into the accounts of farmers and Kisan Credit Card Yojna, etc.

The Union Home Minister also asked that it should be ensured that the benefits of the industrial policy reach small scale industries, officials said. “The Union Home Minister appreciated efforts for providing employment to youth and institutional reforms like geo-tagging of all development works that are put in public domain, purchasing through Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and direct deposit of money into bank accounts of almost hundred percent beneficiaries of Gram Swaraj, social security and other individual beneficiary schemes.”

“The Lt. Governor Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha and senior officers of the Central Government and Government of Jammu & Kashmir attended the meeting,” the officials said

On Thursday, Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, in which the District Capex Budget of 2021-22 was set at Rs. 12,600.58 crore for the equitable development of the Union Territory. The approved budget is more than double the previous year's budget of Rs. 5,134.40 crore.

During the meeting, the Lt Governor observed that the community need-based plan has been prepared through Public/ PRI's participation, which focuses on a rapid rise in the standard of living of the people, employment opportunities to the locals, ensuring better roads, drinking water, electricity, tourism potential, empowering youth and determining other priorities as per the public demand.