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| Govt committed to political stability, economic development: Azad | | 'Actual work, not slogans bring about self reliance' | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Nov 7
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the coalition government was committed to political stability and economic development in Jammu & Kashmir, adding that his government had taken numerous historic and important decisions during the past two years aimed at the welfare of the people.
Speaking at a largely attended function organised here to distribute orders for conferment of ownership rights of State land to about 4000 farmers of Jammu and Akhnoor tehsils under the Roshni scheme, the Chief Minister said that he was resolute in his mission of development and taking the State forward on the road to progress. He said he did not believe in slogans and empty speeches but would rather engage in practical work. Slogans, he said, could earn one a seat in legislature or parliament or council of ministers but these did not bring about development of basic amenities to people or their economic self reliance. He said enough time had been spent in selling dreams to people but actually even after 60 years of independence the State was deficient in infrastructure in roads, education, health and drinking water and other key sectors.
The Chief Minister said that he had successfully attempted at spreading the benefits of development across the State without political or regional distinction. He said that in the past development works were taken up in selected constituencies in which the ruling party would be the major beneficiary or the urban areas receive maximum attention. Against this trend, he said, his government made need and requirement the basis of developing infrastructure. He said today hundreds of infrastructure related projects were under execution in the three regions and even the remotest and geographically difficult areas were reaping equal benefits of development. Basic amenities were being provided to people and areas that had been neglected so far, he said, adding that better roads, healthcare, education and drinking water facilities made available in villages would also check rural migration to cities which otherwise was causing stress on urban infrastructure. He said infrastructure development was going apace in every area. Hospitals, bridges, schools, roads and other public utility facilities were coming up in hundreds, he said, adding that he was personally monitoring major projects.
Azad said two years was too short a period to make remarkable achievements but he was proud to say that the government had done exceptionally well in all fields. He said J&K was labelled as second most corrupt State in the country three years back but today it must be at the bottom of the list of corrupt states, thanks to the measures taken by his government to curb corruption and promote healthy work culture. He said J&K was the only place in the world to enact law under which ill-gotten property of government employees was confiscated. He said already about a dozen such properties have been seized by the government while 50 to 60 more were under scrutiny. He said his war against corruption would continue.
The Chief Minister said that the pledges made by his government and party to the people of the State had been almost fully implemented. He said the promises waiting implementation for decades had also been fulfilled by his government. He cited the instances of Wazir Commission, Finance Commission and De-limitation Commission to support his argument. He said the Wazir Commission Report had gathered tonnes of dust over the decades but his government not only implemented the recommendations but even went further to meet the aspirations of the people. He said 8 new districts were created in the State which actually became functional within 8 months of the cabinet decision on creation of new administrative units. He said this was unprecedented given the history of announcements of new districts and actual implementation even in other states of the country. He said foundation stones of new district office complexes would be laid within a fortnight. He said the Finance Commission was constituted to look into the complaints of one region eating up funds meant for the other. He said in keeping with the long pending demand of the people, the State Cabinet approved Delimitation Commission but since it required 2/3 rd majority in the Assembly to pass legislation to set up the Commission, the government could not move any further on the matter. He said in the absence of support from other political parties in the Assembly the setting up of Delimitation Commission was not possible and it was now up to the electorate to return his party with a massive mandate in the next elections so that the promise was fulfilled without any hitch.
Referring to the improvement in the overall situation in the State, the Chief Minister recalled his statement made at the time of taking over the reigns of power two years ago that while no leniency would be shown towards perpetrators of violence, the human rights violations would also not be tolerated. He said with a sense of satisfaction that the situation was improving fast and during the past five years of coalition rule each year was an improvement over the previous one. He said the current year would hopefully be the first in 19 years during which no custodial disappearance was reported and minimum violence took place. He said government took cognizance of HR violations and initiated strict action against the erring officials. One erring SSP and about 12 other police personnel were presently in jail, he added. He said the situation was so relaxed today that any political party could hold public meeting in any part of the State.
The Chief Minister said that alongside taking measures to improve economic situation, the government also took path-breaking political initiatives like holding of Round Table Conferences (RTC). He said the Prime Minister convened three RTCs in which all political parties and groups of the three regions of the State participated and put across their points of view on important issues. He said the recommendations of the Working Groups would be implemented. He said he also convened an All Parties' Meeting to discuss the problems of the refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971. He said while consensus could not be evolved on all issues but where there was unanimity of views those decisions would be implemented soon. He said the committee under the Chief Secretary had submitted its report on SRO 294 which would be implemented. He said a Cabinet Sub- committee had been constituted to look into the demands of ex-servicemen.
Dwelling on the conferment of ownership rights of State land on farmers, the Chief Minister described it as the Diwali Gift for them, saying it would make them owner of the land that was under their occupation for years but without proprietary rights. He said the farmers could now work with more interest and get better yield than before. He said now there was no threat of dispossession looming large over them. He, however, cautioned them against selling the land or changing its use which, he said, was not allowed under the Act.
Present on the occasion were Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Tara Chand, Health Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, R&B Minister, Gulchain Singh Charak, Ministers of State, Prem Sagar Aziz, Aijaz Ahmad Khan and Dr. Romesh Chander Sharma, MP, Madan Lal Sharma, Mayor, JMC, Narinder Singh, Vice Chairman, Pahari Board, Shabir Ahmad Khan and legislators, Yogesh Sawhney, Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Suman Bhagat, Sham Lal Sharma, Ch. Gharu Ram, Praduman Singh and Arvinder Singh. |
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