Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar, today reiterated that upliftment and socio-economic development of the people across the State is prime concern of Government, saying that various initiatives have been taken in this regard including establishment of Panchayati Raj system in the J&K.
The Minister was addressing a large gathering of people and public representatives in an Awami Darbar held at Dara, Fakir Gujri here today.
Legislators, Mohammad Yaseen Shah, Sheikh Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director Rural Development Department, Kashmir, Altaf Ahmad Mir and various district officers were present on the occasion.
Mr. Sagar urged upon people to extend their cooperation for maintaining peace so that State could achieve new heights of development and prosperity. He also asked people to avail maximum benefit from various State and Centrally sponsored schemes to elevate their socio-economic status.
He said that the people are fully aware of the developmental process initiated by the Government for ensuring need based and sustained prosperity and development of the State. These progressive initiatives have changed the socio-economic profile of the rural and far flung areas and the State as a whole, he said. “Some parties are trying to mislead the people by spreading falsehood, flouting obnoxious ideas and hypocrisy. But the people are wise enough to understand their machinations and will give a befitting reply to them in next elections, he maintained.
He cautioned people against defeated politicians who have exploited the people for their vested interests. He said they are the elements responsible for bloodshed and mayhem that struck the State in 1990 when they were in the higher corridors of power at Centre. He urged upon them to differentiate between right and wrong.
The Minister said that Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has introduced various employment generation schemes including Himayat, Udaan and Umeed besides other skill development programs through which number of unemployed youth have been imparted training and have been made able to earn their lively hood with dignity and passion.
On the occasion, people and public representatives of the Dara, Khimber, Fakir Gujri and other adjoining areas put forth their demands before the Minister which include repairing of, electric poles, street lights, roads, lanes and drains, supply of drinking water and ration. They also demanded for construction of play field besides developing one village of the area as model village, and taking necessary steps for preventing man animal conflicts in the area.
Responding favourably to the demands, the Minister made announcement of making one of the villages of the area as model village and assured them that all the genuine demands will be fulfilled on priority basis.
Yassen Shah, Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, Farooq Ahmad Shah and Altaf Ahmad Mir also spoke on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel