‘VBSY transforming lives with change of mindset’
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 23: Union Minister of State with Independent Charge of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that Government has taken serious cognizance of terrorist attack in Poonch.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function held at DAV Senior Secondary School here, Dr Jitendra Singh said that concerned agencies including Ministry of Home and Ministry of Defence have taken serious cognizance of the attack and Government is totally committed to eliminate militancy in the UT.
He, however, said that there is overall normalcy in the UT as over two crore tourists from India and abroad visited Kashmir in last over one year. This is evidence of normalcy returning to Kashmir, he added. He made it clear that tourists would have never visited Valley on Government declaring normalcy there but they only came after enquiring from their sources that the situation has turned normal in Valley and there are no incidents of stone pelting or daily strikes as was case previously.
Dr Jitendra Singh said they (tourists) visited Kashmir only after they ensured the safety of their as well as their family members’ lives and not what Government says about normalcy.
The Minister said that there was such a huge rush of tourists in Kashmir that people opened their houses for accommodating them as there was no space in hotels, guest houses or houseboats which indicates that a discernible change has taken place in Valley.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Kathua is emerging a fast developed region in entire North India as it has a Medical College, an Engineering College , a Biotech Park, Dreamland and Birla Park while the Homeopathic College has also been sanctioned for the district and the AIIMS is also nearby the district.
The Union Minister said that Kathua is not only becoming a vibrant region of J&K but entire North India.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the fast development in J&K became possible only after the controversial Article 370 was annulled by Narendra Modi Government. He said though first Prime Minister of India, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru had said in the Lok Sabha that it is a temporary provision and will get eradicated with the passage of time but his successors protected it for their vested political interests and their survival. He said Modi has done away with this biggest Constitutional anomaly.
While addressing the function, he urged people to become stakeholders of “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” (VBSY), saying it is transforming lives with a change in mindset.
He said the people are now being empowered and their respect has increased with the delivery of services at their doorsteps through Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra vans.
The Minister was addressing a gathering at M.H.S. D.A.V Senior Secondary School under the aegis of Arya Samaj in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that through the Yatra, people living in far flung areas of the UT are drawing benefits irrespective of their caste, colour or creed.
The Minister said those sections of society who were neglected and ignored are now the beneficiaries of Government schemes. He added that loans being provided to street vendors under PM Svanidhi scheme have enabled them to earn their livelihoods with dignity and in a sustainable manner. Similarly, PM Vishwakarma Yojana is benefitting weavers and artisans.
Dr Jitendra Singh announced that Kathua is being developed on many fronts in order to make it a model district not only for Jammu and Kashmir but also the rest of the country. In the last 10 years, no other constituency has seen all round development as the Udhampur-Kathua constituency, he underlined. Dr Singh announced that plans are afoot to encourage fish farming so that it emerges as an export centre for the famous trout variety. He said road connectivity in and outside the district is being improved for fast and hassle free travel to States, including Punjab and Delhi.
Earlier, the Union Minister presented keys of new houses to beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana. Dr Singh informed that more than 5 crore houses have been built in the country under the yojana.
He also distributed sweaters among over 100 students under Suhani Sardi Andolan. On the occasion, Dr Singh also saw off 20 students from the district who will take part in national level games in various parts of the country.
Later, speaking at a symposium on Women at Workplace at Government Degree College, Kathua, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that Indian women are increasingly assuming leadership role in every sphere of life and every profession, moving away from a long-held participatory role.
He called upon the youth to get benefitted from the enabling milieu provided by the Government and advised them to realise their aspirations and touch new heights.
In this regard, he mentioned the National Education Policy (NEP) which has made it possible for students to choose subjects based on their aptitude. Stating that the youth are living in the best of times, he asked them to make judicious use of technology. He added that technology has proven to be a great leveller, and the NEP is embedded with this technology which has given access to students.
The Minister also asked the students to realise the Prime Minister, Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047, adding that the Government has taken upon itself to scale up capacity building of its youth. It is now incumbent upon the youth to ensure that the India of 2047 reaches its glory it deserves, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the world is ready to be led by India, and the latter is ready to be led its women.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also asked the youth to avail financial assistance being provided under PM Mudra Yojana to set up their own StartUps in order to earn livelihoods for themselves, and become job providers for others.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vinay Rampal, Secretary Prof. D.K. Rampal Memorial Trust emphasized the need of highlighting the important issues and challenges women face at the workplace and also stressed on the dire need for proper attention towards human relationship and the teacher and taught relationship. While remembering his departed brother Prof. Ravinder Rampal who left for his heavenly abode while in harness on second of November, 1972, he stressed about the academic and social and health related issues which Prof. D.K. Rampal Memorial Trust is carrying out and this symposia cum Prize Distribution cum Scholarship disbursement function is carried out each year.
The Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries of various Government schemes, including PM Ayushman Bharat. The women beneficiaries of PM Ayushman Bharat expressed their gratitude to the Government for providing them free of cost treatment for many diseases, which they could not afford on their own because of their poor financial condition.
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