* ‘Ladli Beti’ Social Assistance Scheme gets nod
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: State Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed this morning, accorded sanction to the appointment of 1984 batch IAS officer, B R Sharma as new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. Soon after the Cabinet decision, Mr Sharma took over as head of the bureaucracy in the State.
It was also decided by the Cabinet that B R Sharma will continue to hold the charge of the post of Administrative Secretary, Planning and Development Department till further orders.
The appointment of new Chief Secretary was required after Mr Sharma’s predecessor Mohammad Iqbal Khandey sought voluntary retirement from service last month citing differences with the Government.
B R Sharma has been appointed to the top administrative post superseding four senior officers-Arun Kumar (Financial Commissioner Revenue), Sonali Kumar (Chairman J&K Special Tribunal), A K Angurana (Secretary in the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj) and Khursheed Ganai (Financial Commissioner Industries and Commerce).
Born on April 27, 1960, Mr Sharma will have one of the longest tenure as Chief Secretary of the State. He has held various important positions in the State Administration including Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department, Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara and Excise Commissioner.
His appointed to the coveted post has been widely hailed by the civil society as well as Administrative Secretaries, senior officers and Secretariat employees. He is known for his integrity, honesty and administrative acumen.
It is pertinent to mention here that EXCELSIOR in its edition dated August 26 had exclusively reported that B R Sharma would take over as new Chief Secretary of the State.
The Cabinet also ratified the voluntary retirement of former Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and placed on record its appreciation for the honesty, integrity, administrative acumen and remarkable contribution of Iqbal Khandey in various capacities towards development of the State. The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed recalled with appreciation the performance of Mr Khandey as his Principal Secretary during his previous tenure as the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, as reported exclusively by EXCELSIOR in its today’s edition, Cabinet gave its nod to the adoption of the State Sponsored Social Assistance Scheme ‘Ladli Beti’ for its implementation in six selected districts of Jammu and Kashmir exhibiting low and declining child sex ratio viz Kathua, Jammu, Samba, Budgam, Pulwama and Anantnag.
The Scheme ‘Ladli Beti’ has been launched to create a strong positive disposition towards the girl child and aims to reverse the alarming trend of declining child sex ratio. The scheme addresses the concerns of girl’s right from birth to adulthood by providing financial security to the girls. Under the scheme, the State Government will contribute Rs 1000 per month towards the birth of every girl child with effect from 1st April 2015 for the next 14 years and on reaching 21 years of age the girl child would receive a sum of Rs 6.5 lakh.
Girl child born to parents with annual income from all sources less than Rs 75000 per annum only will be eligible for the benefits under the scheme. The prescribed application form for the scheme will be available at the office of District Social Welfare Officer, Programme Officers, CDPOs and their Sub-ordinate offices.
The Cabinet constituted a Sub-Committee to examine the proposed legislation namely the Jammu and Kashmir Wakafs Bill, 2015. The Sub-Committee comprises Minister for Horticulture / Haj & Auqaf as its Chairman, Minister for Industries & Commerce, Minister for Revenue, Minister for Social Welfare/ Forest, Ecology & Environment, Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs/ Relief & Rehabilitation as its members.
The Sub-Committee will be serviced by the Revenue Department and will submit its report within one month. The Bill aims at consolidating the existing laws pertaining to Wakafs and Wakaf properties in the State.
The Cabinet also approved the lease of 7 kanals and 7 marlas land to New Kashmir Fruit Association at Fruit and Vegetable Market, Parimpora for construction of Cold/ Controlled Atmosphere Stores and allied infrastructure under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. It was also decided that apart from the lease deed, the Agriculture Production Department will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the lessee regarding mutually agreed modalities in respect of the proposed project.
The revised Master Plan for Pahalgam, which has been named as ‘Pahalgam 2032’, was also approved by the Cabinet. The Plan has been prepared keeping in view the sensitivity of the local ecology and environment and requirements for tourism and development.
Among other things, the revised Master Plan also proposes that an action plan for solid waste management, sewerage disposal and water supply be prepared for the entire local area of Pahalgam Development Authority including the existing village settlements.
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