KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Feb 22: Governor N N Vohra today reaffirmed state government’s commitment to “effectively counter militancy and terrorism” while pursuing the process of dialogue and reconciliation.
In his 39-pages address to the joint sitting of state legislature on the opening day of budget session, Governor recalled that a “large turnout of voters in 2008 assembly was to give an unambiguous message to the separatists that the problems of the state can be resolved by political means” and there was no scope for taking violent course for whatever means.” Vohra welcomed initiatives taken by the central government to reopen dialogue with the separatist leaders in Kashmir.
He also hailed the resumption of Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks.
Governor claimed that the coalition government’s highest priority during its first year of rule was the restoration of peace and tranquility in the state.
“After more than two decades of militancy-related violence and terrorism, there’s a palpable yearning for peace process all sections of the society in the different regions of the state.
It is clear that the people want to put the past behind them and to get on with their lives.
Over the years, the disruption of normal life caused by violence, hartals, bandhs, etc.
has taken a heavy toll and the delivery of services by the government has inevitably been adversely affected.
The repeated disruption of academic schedules has done irreparable damage to the future of the younger generation.
More importantly, the people of the state have not been able to take full benefit of the economic development which took place in various parts of the country after the liberalisation of the 1990s.
The state has to now take rapid steps to make up for lost time,” Vohra asserted.
He announced that the coalition was actively pursuing with the Government of India, the implementation of the Rangarajan Committee recommendation for transferring the 390 MW Dulhasti Hydro Electric Power Project to the state as part of compensation for the losses suffered due to the Indus Water Treaty.
Governor, in his 50-minute address, assured the government’s commitment to conform to the rule of law in all its actions and reiterated the government’s pledge to “zero tolerance” to human rights violation.
In addition, the Empowered Committee system was made fully functional during 2009 which made it possible to consider the recommendations made by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) during the year with a minimum time lag, he added.
“The government will try to achieve the difficult balance between empowering the security forces and the police to act decisively and effectively and the firm commitment to ensure that violations of human rights do not occur during the course of such action,” he avowed.
Governor maintained that there was significant reduction in terrorist related incidents in the state in 2009 and there were only 499 terrorist incidents last year as compared to 708 in 2008 and 1092 in 2007.
“The reduction in terrorism related violence is due in a large part to the concerted action taken by the security forces and the army against militants in the state.
During 2009, a total of 239 militants were killed and 187 were arrested.
More importantly, a number of influential terrorist field commanders were also eliminated.
However, areas of concern remain.
There was a rise in attempts to infiltrate into the state across the LoC and the International Border during 2009 and in the month of January 2010,” he identified the area of concern.
Asserting that the Kashmiri Pandits are an essential component of the identity and ethos of Kashmir and their safe return to the Valley with dignity and honour was a major objective of the coalition government, he pointed out that the state cabinet recently approved a package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants with an outlay of Rs.
“An apex Advisory Committee has been constituted to oversee the effective implementation of the package, one of the main components of which is the provision of employment to unemployed migrant youth.
As many as 3,000 posts have been created for them in various government departments and the recruitment agencies have already initiated the selection process.
Transit accommodation in Kashmir is being constructed for the returning migrants.
Work on the new township at Jagti, where 4218 flats for Kashmiri migrants are under construction, is at an advanced stage of completion and these flats will be available for allotment during the current year,” he asserted while reiterating his government’s commitment to addressing the unresolved problems relating to displaced persons, the refugees and the migrants in Jammu.
Stressing on equitable development amid a spirit of mutual co-operation and co-existence, he assured that the policies and programmes aimed at promoting the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Gujjars and Bakerwals, Pahari speaking people and other Backward Classes would continue to receive Government’s priority attention.
Without giving any specific deadline, he announced that the elections to the Panchayats and the urban local bodies in the state would be held soon.
Governor enumerated the salient features of what he chose to describe as “a comprehensive and holistic Employment Policy Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for the Youth and stated that the government was focussed on the provision of “good governance.” “In order to ensure adequate transparency in the functioning of the Government, a new Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009, was enacted on the lines of the Central Act.
Another new initiative was the setting up of a Grievance Cell (Awaz-e-Awam) in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat for the speedy redressal of public grievances.
The new Awami Mulaqat system for taking the Government to the people at district headquarters level has evoked an overwhelming response from the public.
State Information Commission is expected to become fully functional shortly and the State Accountability Commission is being reconstituted, Vohra stated.
On account of scourge of corruption in public service, his take was that the coalition will not “compromise on the issue of corruption and ruthless action under law will be taken against wrongdoers.” While referring to increase in the Annual Plan of 2009-10 to Rs.
5500 crore, which is the highest allocation ever and another Rs.
1,200 crore under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP), including Rs.
220 crore as ‘counter-part share’ to enable the state government to raise a matching share of loan from the Asian Development Bank, he expressed gratitude to the central government for extending wholehearted support to the state.
He announced that a multi-pronged strategy has been adopted to harness the available hydro-electric potential in the shortest possible time.
Follow up action on the decision to execute five hydro electric projects in the state with a total installed capacity of 870.5 MW has already been initiated.
“The bidding process for the 690 MW Ratle Project, being taken up under the IPP route, is under way.
Three other major projects with an aggregate installed capacity of 2100 MW in the Chenab River basin are to be implemented through a Joint Venture Company.
Another 6 projects with a total installed capacity of 1799 MW are under execution by NHPC on a fast track basis.
Of these, the 120 MW SEWA-II Project is nearing completion.
The government also intends to encourage micro hydel projects through the Public-Private–Partnership mode,” he added.
“Government is working in close coordination with the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy for setting up power projects below 25 MW and solar energy projects.
The possibility of setting up a 5 MW Grid interactive SPV plant along with 6 stand alone SPV Solar Plants in Leh and Kargil Districts in collaboration with Central Electricity Authority is being examined,” Vohra stated.
In rest of his address he enumerated achievements and major initiatives to boost agriculture, livestock rearing, floriculture, health, education, road, transport, connectivity, tourism, environment, augment drinking water facility etc.
“To improve health care delivery at tertiary level, the construction of Super-Speciality Hospitals under Pradhan Mantri’s Swasthya Suraksha Yojana is being fast tracked.
The coalition will also continue to focus on the promotion and mainstreaming of the Indian Systems of Medicine.
The central government has announced the establishment of a Unani College in Kashmir and an Ayurvedic College in Jammu to promote Indian Systems of Medicine in the state,” Governor stated.
“Work on the prestigious Mughal Road Project, with an estimated outlay of Rs.
639.85 crore, is in full swing.
Construction of the Singhpora tunnel is being taken up in the Public-Private Partnership mode and this will ultimately enable an alternate road from Dunera in Punjab to Kashmir via Basholi- Bhaderwah-Kishtwar.
Work on the four-laning of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Project has commenced.
On completion, this will significantly reduce the distance and time for travel between Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
While referring to the commissioning of the Qazigund-Anantnag section of the Qazigund-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line during 2009, Governor informed that the coalition government has urged the Government of India for speeding up the construction of Udhampur-Qazigund section of Udhampur-Qazigund-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country by rail.
He maintained, “The coalition government attached great importance to the welfare of the disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of the society particularly women, children, widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, the aged and the infirm.” “The government has a special responsibility for tackling the problems faced by the victims of militancy.
A total of 6467 militancy affected persons, including children and the disabled, have been covered under the enhanced pension schemes with an expenditure of Rs.2.52 crore.
Similarly the government attaches the highest importance to the empowerment of women.
As part of the initiative to empower women, due priority has been given to them in the new employment policy,” Vohra claimed.
“Under this policy, the 2200 women entrepreneurs to be selected in the first phase will be granted soft loans up to Rs.
3 lakh through the State Women’s Development Corporation.
A corpus of Rs.10 crore has been created for the implementation of the scheme.
My Government intends to introduce legislation for the protection of women from domestic violence.
Gender budgeting is being given due attention so as to ensure that funds are allocated for activities which promote the development of women in an integrated manner,” he asserted.
He also enumerated the steps taken for the “welfare of government employees and pensioners” adding that the government would take all necessary steps to encourage hard working, honest and efficient officials and deal ruthlessly with slack, indisciplined, corrupt and dishonest functionaries.
His winding up shot was, “My government has been in office only for the first of its six year tenure.
While this is not a long period, any objective assessment of the work done by my government during the last year would show that the pace has been set and various activities are moving in the right direction.
On the basis of the firm foundation laid in its first year in office, the government now confidently looks forward to meeting the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state.” Later, the copies of the Governor’s Address were tabled in both the Houses of the State Legislature, which met separately.
In the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker Mohammed Akbar Lone reported and laid on the table the copy of the Governor’s Address.
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