‘KPs representation in management of shrines, temples must’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 13: Union Minister in PMO with Independent charge of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today called upon the intellectuals to create awareness about Startup boom among the youth of the J&K who till date have failed to get its advantage to the hilt in comparison to other parts of the country.
Talking to a delegation of Kashmiri Pandit intellectuals and members of Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Trust (PNBMT) here. today, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised the need to streamline Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s progressive initiative by intellectuals and appealed the youth from J&K including from displaced Kashmiri Pandit community to avail the Startup boom.
Maintaining that Kashmiri Pandits have played a remarkable contribution in varied fields not in the erstwhile State of J&K, but nation as a whole, he said their contribution to Indian aesthetics can’t be ignored. He urged the community intelligentia to play a wider role and come forward in highlighting the welfare and developmental policies of the Modi Government.
“Your role has not been limited to J&K only but prior to the freedom of Kashmir the intellectuals from this community were given important assignments by some Maharajas outside J&K. I have been often saying that time will come when the people who were responsible for the mass exodus of the community from the Valley will realize your essence and regret what they have done with this community,” he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that all steps are being taken by the present Government for development and progress of the country of which the Pandits are part and parcel.
He said in comparison to 350 Startups in the country before 2014 their number has increased to 1.25 lakh now and India is rated number three in Startup eco system in the world. He, however, regretted that their number is much lesser in J&K as compared to other parts of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that J&K is hailed all over the world as birth place of purple revolution and has created 300 entrepreneurs and IIM Jammu has started handholding and technical assistance for them. Highlighting the PM’s concern for promotion of Startups, the Union Minister said Modi has promoted Khadi entrepreneurship and this year turnover of Khadi was 1.25 thousand crore but it is yet to pick up in J&K although the Government is providing 30 to 40 percent subsidy with easy loans facility.
The Minister said that recently in North Zone Khadi Expo held in Udhampur Government of India distributed subsidy but mostly people confined to few districts of Kashmir came forward while this scheme can be availed by every citizen of J&K.
He said the number of Biotech Startups has risen from 550 to 6000 and CSIR is providing support for such Startups both in Kashmir valley and Jammu. Dr Jitendra Singh said that the J&K is first UT in North India to get Teaching Department of Space Technology through ISRO at Central University of Jammu. The candidates for training in this institute are selected through IIT JEE Exam and they have 100 percent employment in different space centers in country or abroad. It is the duty of intelligentia to spread awareness about the same, he added.
The Minister said that the Pandits have played great role in enriching academic milieu of the country and they along with the other group of intellectuals can bring awareness about the source of jobs in private sector which are more lucrative than the Government jobs.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Modi Government is the first regime in the country which has launched many job oriented schemes for the youth in private sector. Under PM Svanidhi Scheme loan is provided for vendors while PM Vishwakarma Scheme has been launched for weavers, artisans, carpenters, blacksmiths etc. These are the new sectors to enrich economy of the future India, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the J&K with enormous natural resources and talented youth can play important role in future economy of India in the next 25 years in the making of India in 2047.
Assuring the KP delegation that Modi Government is fully abreast with all the issues of the community, Dr Jitendra Singh said that in any future arrangement the community’s equal and adequate representation and voice about the management of shrines and temples is must.
The delegation was led by senior KP leader and well known scholar, Dr K N Pandita who was accompanied by Prof P N Trisal a linguist, Hira Lal Bhat, Trustee PNBMT and co convener, BJP Kashmir, A K Raina vice president, AIKS, Roshan Lal Pandita, chairman of PNBMT, Virender Raina, president Panun Kashmir, I K Raina, social activist and Shadi Lal Rais, secretary PNBMT.
They discussed various issues with the Union Minister and appreciated the steps taken by the Modi Government for development and progress of the nation. Dr K N Pandita said the community fully endorses the stand taken by the Modi Government in countering the forces who are inimical to world peace and who are working to destroy the civilizations.
He said the national interest is of paramount importance for Kashmiri Pandits and they fully back the present Government in its all actions taken for welfare and development of the nation.
They also stressed that there should be a connect of the community with the Government so that it does not feel alienated and also stressed that the measures be taken for the protection of Hindu shrines and temples in Kashmir by constituting a Shrine Board as an autonomous body for their upkeep and preservation or posterity.
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