Govt responsive to people’s problems, concerns: Mehbooba

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 9: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today called for reaching out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the issues confronting the State and ending the scourge of violence that has left behind a trail of death and destruction.
“The pain of Kashmiris has reached a level where the hope of peace is sure to gain substantial local support if tangible confidence building measures are taken to address the issues concerning the state and its people,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with several deputations during public hearing at her private office here today.
Mehbooba said the people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their age, gender, status or the political affiliation, have been suffering the terrible consequences of the pernicious turmoil over the last more than two decades. “They, now want peace and stability to take roots, and even within the prevailing circumstances there lies an opportunity to consolidate the peace efforts, if substantial steps are taken in the right direction to positively impact the ground situation,” she said and stressed the need and urgency for reviving the peace and reconciliation initiatives, both on the internal and external fronts.
Seeking people’s cooperation in stabilizing peace, the Chief Minister said, “the Government is responsive to the people’s needs and concerned about their problems and is working judiciously and in a transparent manner to fulfill their aspirations and expectations.”
Flagging the problem of unemployment as a matter of grave concern, she said every section of the society including individuals, institutions and organizations, have to be brought together in a spirit of creative enterprise to widen the economic and employment space for the State’s youth and channelize their energies productively.
The deputations that called on the Chief Minister and brought to her notice their grievances, demands and developmental issues of the concerned areas for early redress included delegation of parents of doctors led by Mohammad Shafi Khanday,  delegation of unemployed veterinary doctors led by Ishfaq Ahmad Dhobi, delegation of cross-LoC traders led by Hilal Turkey, delegation of Doctors Association Kashmir led by Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan, delegation of Gousia Artisan Union Khanyar led by Riyaz Ahmad Shah, delegation of Kashmir Artisan Association led by Ghulam Nabi Khan, deputation of All J&K Transformer Manufacturers & Repairs Association led by J D Wani, deputation of CIC Operators led by Razia, deputation of Kashmir Drugs, Surgical Machines Suppliers Association and deputation of Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Federation led by Mir Hafizullah.
Besides, several civil society members and individuals from across the State also called on the Chief Minister to seek speedy redress of their grievances and demands.
The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the deputations and individuals and said that their genuine demands would be given due consideration by the Government. She said the Government is alive to the public demands and necessary measures are already afoot to upgrade basic amenities and ensure prompt public service delivery. She said wherever necessary additional focus would be laid to address the people’s demands on priority.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Navin Kumar Choudhary was also present during the public hearing.