‘Govt committed to protect rights, land in J&K’
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Jan 22: Union Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, today said that the environment in Jammu and Kashmir was positive and the Government will reach out to the people and inform them about the change while Junior Home Minister said that the Government is committed to protect rights and land of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Naqvi visited commercial Hub Lal Chowk this morning at around 10.45 a.m and interacted with vendors who had installed their stalls at Mecca Market and also the shopkeepers outside market. The traders presented bouquets to the Minister and greeted him on the occasion.
The Union Minister who is on a two-day visit to Srinagar, said that the Government in the present atmosphere in Kashmir will reach out to the people and inform them about the change post abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
Click here to watch video
The vendors at Mecca market apprised him about the problems they are facing and demanded permanent place for them to run their businesses.
Meanwhile, Naqvi while talking to reporters said that the Government at the Centre is committed to overall development of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “People are very enthusiastic and the environment in Kashmir is positive,” he said.
“In this positive environment, we will reach out to the people and inform them about the change post abrogation of Article 370”, he said.
Meanwhile, a tight security arrangement was made in and around Lal Chowk since morning. Naqvi, was accompanied by Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor Farooq Ahmad Khan and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Iqbal.
Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Government will set up every required infrastructure for development and export of IT products from J&K UT.
He said this after inaugurating the incubation facility at Srinagar Technology Parks of India Srinagar.
“The incubation facility will give opportunities to IT entrepreneurs by providing plug-n-play and other digital infrastructure along with regulatory support to develop and export IT products from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Later the Minister had a tour of the STPI complex where officials informed him about the various facilities provided by the Centre for software entrepreneurs of J&K.
He also interacted with young entrepreneurs and IT experts of some software companies who are using the space and other facilities of the STPI for development and export of their softwares for the outside market.
The Minister directed the officials to facilitate young software developers and encourage them to become successful software development entrepreneurs.
Later, the Union Minister also visited National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology Srinagar.
On the occasion, the Union Minister inaugurated two separate hostel buildings for boys and girls besides an IT lab with a capacity of 40 seats. He interacted with students and faculty and asked them about the facilities in the institute and scope for improvement.
Prasad also inaugurated an ‘All Women Post Office’ in Srinagar.
On the occasion, the Minister said that the Government is striving hard for the overall development and prosperity of the youth of J&K. “The initiative of opening of All Women Post Office is to encourage and empower the women of our country,” he added.
The Minister stated that Circuit Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal will be started soon in Srinagar, besides 350 lawyers of JK will become notary.
He also inaugurated parcel hub Srinagar which will be gateway for incoming and outgoing of parcels -a key milestone in a Post’s transformation from an old world of letters to new world of an e-commerce logistics.
He said that BSNL is strategic asset of the country. He stressed upon the officials of BSNL to expedite the process of connecting 3,500 villages with the rest of the country.
The Minister also launched the Annual Unlimited Voice Calling @1099 for J&K BSNL landline customers which provides free calling on every BSNL number.
Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, who visited Budgam today said that the present dispensation is committed to protect rights and land of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at a public gathering at Sheikhpora, Budgam, the Minister, who was on a visit to Budgam in connection with the Government’s public outreach programme said that the socio-economic development of J&K is the focal point of the Union Government.
He said that the development of J&K is priority for the Central Government. “The present dispensation is committed to protect rights and land of the people”, he said. He added that secularism as unique strength of the country and all citizens have responsibility to strengthen it and make good out of it.
The Minister said that special focus shall be given on industrialization in the newly carved Union Territory to open up new employment generation avenues for the local youth. Besides, he said, special focus shall also be given on the improvement of education sector. He asserted that people of J&K will be provided access and development at par with other States of the country.
Stressing on the empowerment of people at grass root level, the Minister said that now funds are at the disposal of Panchayat members and PRIs functionaries to empower them financially.
In Ganderbal Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy while addressing a gathering said that the Union Government has come up with the concept of Golden Card through which deserving segments of the society can afford the treatment of upto Rs 5 lakh. He said so far 3.5 lakh families have received this card in J&K.
During his interaction with the newly elected Block Development Council representatives, the Minister reiterated that the conduct of BDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir was a big step towards the empowerment of people. He added that through these representatives the Government gets firsthand account of people’s grievances and feedback on different initiatives.
He assured the people of the area that the Union Government is committed to develop villages on modern lines and electrification of all inhabited villages through the Saubhagya scheme is one step towards that.
The Minister later e-inaugurated multiple developmental projects in the district, with a total estimated cost of Rs 20.39 crores, which includes construction of multipurpose hall at Government Degree College, mini pavillion block at sports stadium, 100 bedded girls hostel and development of Nininara Island in the Manasbal lake.
He also laid foundation stone for the construction of two lane byepass road from Ganderbal to Duderhama up to district head office complex, which, he said, was a long pending demand of people and will serve as a byepass to Kheerbawani temple. He said that road connectivity is imperative for growth and development of an area and the Centre is pushing hard towards it.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
