But provocation has not stopped us from opening schools, restoring landlines; new apple scheme to benefit 30 million farmers, fetch worth Rs 800 Crore profit
Srinagar, Sep 12 : Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday said tremendous provocation from across the LoC was a major reason that is hampering the restoration of mobile phone services in Kashmir and that this “phase too shall pass.”
According to the wire services, addresing media men at Media Facilitation Centre (MFC), at Hotel Sarowar Portico here, official spokesman of the administration RohitKansal said that there was tremendous provocation from across LoC and that was hampering the restoration of communication services in Kashmir, especially mobile services.
“But this too shall pass as this provocation has not prevented us from restoring landlines, opening schools and transporting apples,” Kansal told reporters. He said that the provocation won’t however, prevent the government from restoring mobile services as “we have done in Kupwara and Handwara police districts.”
He said that the scheme announced by the Governor Satya Pal Malik for transporting and procuring apple crop will benefit at least 30 million farmers in Kashmir which will fetch Rs 800 profit also.He said that 75 per cent apple produce is from Kashmir and 20 lakh metric ton is the final produce. “We have taken note of the concerns expressed by the growers that will be also be addressed,”Kansal said.
He, however, said that there will be no compulsion to any farmer to sell the apple crop to the government. “The benefit will directly reach the growers within three working business days,” Kansal said. “This is for the first time that such an initiative has been taken by the Government of India.”
Kansal, who was accompanied by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan and IGP Kashmir S P Pani, said that there will be 85 schemes to be launched soon for the individual benefits of people like widow pension, post retirement schemes etc.
On the restrictions, he said that there are no restrictions anywhere in Kashmir. “No restrictions are in place anywhere in Kashmir and people are free to open shops. Traffic is hitting roads. In total, 187 incidents of law and order were reported and there was no major incidents anywhere,” he said.
Kansal, however, admitted that there was no 100 per cent student attendance in schools and that the government was trying its best ensure student attendance in schools. “But for students, internet kiosks have been established at 11 district commissioners’ offices across Kashmir where students are facilitated to prepare for GATE 2020 exams,” he said.
