‘Need of the hour is to increase employment opportunities for homeopathic professionals’

Srinagar, Jun 27: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member parliament Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday asked government of India to increase investment in homeopathy sector on priority basis.

While speaking in the parliament today, party president said that the increased investment in the homeopathy will give impetus to the research and job creation in the field.

“The world is as such moving towards homeopathy as an alternative to cure diseases. The need of the hour calls for greater investment in the field which will help the researchers fill the research gaps. Besides there are hundreds of trained professionals in the field who are still looking for good employment opportunities. The government must devise policies to accommodate such youth.”

He further added, “Our country has a rich tradition of Aurveda and Unani medicine, the need of the hour is to develop that on modern lines. I urge the concerned ministry to look into the issue.” (KNS) 

Srinagar, Jun 27 : Governor Satya Pal Malik and Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, who arrived here yesterday on his two day visit to Kashmir had discussions on wide ranging issues relating to the equitable growth and development of the State.

Governor presented to Shah handicraft items representing the exquisite craftsmanship of Kashmir and Ladakh and a commemorative coin of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

Governor thanked Home Minister for his visit to the State. (KNS) 

Ensure poorest of poor get benefits of welfare schemes: Union Home Minister

Srinagar, Jun 27 : During his first visit to the state of Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, held a number of meetings with officials to assess the security scenario in the state, review preparations for the Amarnath Yatra and provide Good Governance in the state. He also interacted with a representative group of Sarpanches from the state to gain an insight into the current state of functioning of Panchayats in the state. During the visit, the Union Home Minister also visited the home of the martyred Inspector of J&K Police, Late Arshad Khan.

The meetings in Srinagar were attended by the Governor, Union Home Secretary, all four Advisors, the Chief Secretary and senior officials of the State and Central Governments, of security agencies and the armed forces.

The review of development programs focused on improving the lives of the common man. The review covered a wide range of issues connected with improving the economic condition of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, providing them with employment and livelihood opportunities, providing them the benefit of social security schemes, and raising their incomes. The review included, among others, good governance, accelerating development, strengthening the Panchayat and Municipal system, fast tracking the implementation of the Prime Minister Development Package, building first rate infrastructure, inclusive growth for all communities, balanced regional development with special emphasis on employment generation, and reaching out to the youth.

The Union Home Minister’s focus was primarily on ensuring that the benefits of growth and development reach the poorest of the poor. He asked the State Government to focus on better and more efficient implementation of development schemes so that corruption and leakages are plugged and the citizens to get the intended benefits.

While reviewing the preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, the Union Home Minister’s focus was on a safe and smooth conduct of the Yatra. The review focused on the preparations made so far by security forces in this regard, the improvements made in the arrangements as compared to the previous years and any further requirements of security forces. The review also examined the administrative and other arrangements made for ensuring smooth conduct of the Yatra.

In the Security Review, the security agencies gave a detailed briefing on the security scenario in the state, the results of the last one years’ efforts in containing militancy and their future plans. While the improvements in the security scenario were noted and appreciated, there was a detailed discussion on what further improvements could be made for restoring peace normalcy in the state.

The Home Minister gave directions on a number of issues:

The State Government should ensure that old age, disability and widow pensions reach all those entitled to these, in a timely manner. There should be a quick scrutiny of all eligible people who are left out and ensuring that they are included. The Central Government will ensure additional funds.

The dairy and animal husbandry sector has great potential in this state. The State should work towards signing an MOU with Amul or Mother Dairy and create a programme for ensuring that it becomes surplus in this sector. This is a sector whose benefits would flow to even small households.

The Poultry sector too has great potential with the state importing large volumes of poultry products. The State should create schemes for improving the poultry sector as this sector improves the livelihoods of the poorest. The Central Government would support efforts in this direction.

The Handloom and Handicraft Sector is one of the brightest spots on J&K’s economic landscape. The potential in this has not been fully captured. The state should take the help of the Khadi & Village Industries, MSME and Textiles departments of the Central Government to improve nearly 40 various spheres in this sector. The growth of this sector would increase employment and livelihoods of poor households.

The state should ensure that the newly established Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body system takes deep roots and establishes itself as the third tier of government. There should be a drive to ensure that Panchayats and ULBs spend the funds given to them. These funds run into thousands of crores and ensuring their proper utilization would benefit the people.

There are many socially disadvantaged groups in the state such as Paharis, Gujars, Bakarwals and other Economically Weaker Sections. The reservation benefits extended to them should be implemented vigorously and no posts in these classes should go vacant.

The State Government should take steps to ensure that the newly created Anti-Corruption Bureau focuses on cases of rampant corruption by the High and Mighty.

Women being the key to any development process need to be at the centre of all programmes. The state should work in this direction so that women can get better employment opportunities and livelihoods.

Similarly, the state should prepare a programme for reaching out to the youth who are highly skilled such as MBBS, Engineers, MBAs etc. and do not have gainful employment or livelihood.

State Officers should be fully be sensitive towards balanced development of all the three regions, – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

During the review of the preparations for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, the Union Home Minister directed all security agencies to be fully alert and take all preventive steps to ensure violence free Yatra. He directed that:

There should be no laxity in the enforcement of the SOPs. Senior officers should personally supervise the arrangements at all levels.

Forces should ensure best possible optimum use of latest technologies and the gadgets not only for the security of the Yatra but also to facilitate the movement of the devotees and the tourists. He specifically drew attention of the Forces towards anti-sabotage as well as anti-subversion drills and the access control procedures.

Appreciating the whole-hearted cooperation of the people of the State in successful conduct of the Yatra, the Union Home Minister reassured his commitment towards best possible arrangements.

After a detailed briefing on the prevailing Security Scenario in the state, the Union Home Minister, while appreciating the significant improvement in all the parameters relating to the security situation, directed that:

There should be zero tolerance towards terrorism and terrorists.

There should be continued strict action against terror funding.

The Rule of Law should be enforced.

The Union Home Minister also visited the home of the martyred Inspector of J&K Police, Late Arshad Khan and consoled his bereaved family. He handed over an appointment letter to his wife for a job in the State Government.

The Union Home Minister praised the work of JK Police in countering terrorism and militancy and directed that the State Government should commemorate the martyrdom of its policemen in their hometowns/ villages in an appropriate manner each year. Prominent public places should also be named after martyred policemen.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah further added that he would review periodically the performance of the state on multiple fronts. (KNS) 

Says unemployment the biggest challenge, needs to be addressed

Srinagar, Jun 26 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday said that it will reverse the trend of injustice being meted out to youth, saying the party among other key ideas will majorly focus on issues of job creation and skill development.

Party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar while addressing a series of worker’s conventions at Pattan and Kunzar said tackling unemployment is the biggest challenge before the party. “The severe unemployment is a ticking time bomb that warrants immediate attention of the forthcoming civilian government. During the successive governments of the National Conference, providing safe spaces to youth has been the core of our governance policy. The Dr Farooq Abdullah led government had provided a number of jobs to the youth in his stint as chief minister. His government had adjusted 75000 youth in police department only. Not just that the then NC led government had provided employment to youth in other departments as well; it had employed 35000 teachers, and 55000 Aganwari worker. On the similar lines lacks of youth were adjusted through various skill development and employment programmes in the Omar Abdullah led government. Schemes like SKEWPY and seed capital fund had revolutionized the creation of jobs for youth. Besides that lakhs of youth were given jobs through various recruiting agencies in the state.”

He further added, “But what good was achieved by the former NC Government was put into a chasm by BJP-PDP government. Never has the state witnessed such nepotism, cronyism, and corruption as was rife in the former PDP-BJP government. The fateful coalition didn’t leave any stone unturned to push the educated youth to wall by robbing their merit. The controversies associated with various recruiting agencies and the slack functioning of the recruiting agencies has also been a hallmark of the former PDP-BJP government.”

While referring to the aversion that the BJP has for minorities, particularly Muslims, Sagar said, “The special status of our state has traditionally been a scorn in the eyes of such forces as are inimical to our identity. Today our state is under the onslaught of machinations from all quarters, the forces as are inimical to the interests of our state are contriving to disintegrate our state. However people of our state are well aware of the malicious agenda of such forces, and their cronies in the state.”

Addressing the workers, party provincial president said Nasir Aslam Wani said, “In the just concluded LS elections, people considerately voted for National Conference. People are well aware of our chequred history based on sacrifice. The immense hardships, penitentiary suffered by Sher e Kashmir for the identity and integrity of the state is still inscribed in the memories of people of the state. Our vision is explicit; it is to protect the identity and territorial integrity of the state. Besides that the main challenge ahead of us would be to put the state back on the track of development and prosperity.”

Nasir said that Art 370, Art 35-A are the articles of faith for the party. “Until the flag of NC flutters in the state no one would be able to fiddle with our priced identity and identity,” he said adding, “Keeping in view the challenges the state is facing, the functionaries and the workers of the party should strictly abide by the cherished ideals of Sher e Kashmir. The slogan Sher e Kashmir ka kya Irshad , Hindu Muslim Sikh Itihad forms the core of our ideology, the need of the hour is to visualize the slogan practically.”

Among others party’s Chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Javaid Dar, Reyaz Bedar, Farooq Shah, Showkat Mir also addressed the workers and impressed upon them to take the programme of the party to every household. (KNS) 

Srinagar, Jun 27 : Deputy Mayor Srinagar and Peoples Conference (PC) leader, Sheikh Muhammad Imran Thursday said that the mounting number of accidents in the Valley must be probed so that facts will come to the fore.

Imran in a statement issued  said that the cause of Peer ki gali accident should be ascertained. “We stand with the bereaved families,” he said.

He added the vehicle wherein they were travelling was not ABS then how has RTO renewed the license, therefore, “we need to probe it immediately and understand why so many accidents are taking place. The cause should be identified.”

Imran further said that special team should be constituted to ascertain the facts behind these fatal accidents.

He also added that the state government should take up the issue of development of motorable roads in Kashmir with the central government so that they will release the funds and the roads will be developed easily. (KNS)