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| No reason why Dogra certificates can’t be issued: Azad | | ‘WG recommendations not K-centric’ | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Jan 29
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the recommendations made by the Working Groups (WG) on Jammu and Kashmir had taken a holistic view of the issues concerning the people of the State and any apprehension that these were Kashmir centric or ignored any particular region were unfounded.
Referring to issuance of Dogra Certificate to people in Jammu, the Chief Minister said he did not see any reason why it could not be issued. He said the certificate entitled Dogras to a concession of 2 inches in height for recruitment in the army. He said if some youth of the State would get employment in the army by this certificate it would not only give them the means of sustenance but also help the State in easing to a certain degree the problem of unemployment.
The Chief Minister said that the demand for raising the retirement age of State government employees to 60 years was an open issue. He said the government did not have a close mind on it. He, however, added that it had to be done in tandem with finding employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. He said he was in discussion with his colleagues to find out a package that could take care of both issues.
“It is wrong to think that the Working Group recommendations were Kashmir centric or relate only to issues of militancy affected widows and orphans”, the Chief Minister said while replying the debate in the Legislative Assembly on the demand of grants for departments under his charge. He was referring to a newspaper report and views expressed by some members during the two day debate.
The Chief Minister said that the issues relating to both divisions of the State had been discussed in the Working Groups and recommendations made did not restrict to one region or group of people. He said it was wrong to assume that militancy was restricted to only Kashmir division and added that 35% civilian killings were made in Jammu division. He said the recommendations about militancy hit families would address the problems in both divisions. He said several measures had been proposed by the WGs and the Prime Minister would take a meeting of all political parties before announcing decisions on the recommendations. He said since he did not participate in the WGs, he had also made some recommendations to the Prime Minister at his own level.
The Chief Minister said that while all successive governments had been talking about the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes and hearths in Kashmir, it would only materialize when they were provided incentives like employment, education of children and repair of their damaged houses. He said such incentives were imperative for their return. He said that during the past five years, the government had provided employment to 2000 Kashmiri Pandit youth. He said till such time they did not return to Kashmir, the Prime Minister had announced a comprehensive package for their accommodation which would be ready in about a year. He said bifurcation of ration cards of Kashmiri migrant families would also be taken up as the families had multiplied since the time of migration.
Azad said that he had sought a report on the alleged sale of properties of temples in Kashmir and announced that the government would introduce a bill during the current session of the legislature for protection of these properties.
The Chief Minister also dispelled the notion that the problems confronting the West Pakistan and PoK refugees of 1947 were not attended to. He recalled that he had called an All Parties Meeting in Srinagar last year to arrive at a consensus regarding the demands of the West Pakistan refugees which, however, did not come about. He said he was of the opinion that till such time the consensus was arrived at and necessary law enacted, problems like good roads, sanitation and drinking water facilities for them could be addressed by the government. He said since these refugees were not the state subjects on which account they could not get employment in State government sector, he had projected their woes before the Prime Minister and suggested that a special IPR battalion be sanctioned for them and reservation in admission of their children in the country’s technical education institutions. He said as citizens of India they vote in the Parliament elections and should have job opportunities in central government departments and organisations. He also recommended to the PM relaxation of mortgaging property with the bank for obtaining loan in their case and designating the State Bank of India to provide loans to these people. He said he was not against issuing domicile certificates to these refugees enabling them to seek employment in the army. He hoped positive response on his suggestions, saying theirs was a human problem and needed to be tackled as such.
The Chief Minister also gave details of measures taken by the government to improve transparency and good governance in the State, besides developing work culture and responsive administration. He said last year he visited all the district headquarters and held meetings with district officers following which details of all development works being taken up at block, tehsil and district levels were displayed at the respective offices for the information of the public. He said the introduction of the institution of Additional District Development Commissioner to monitor development works had also yielded good results. He said the ADDCs had conducted 2427 inspections of development works in Kashmir and 3409 in Jammu division, benefiting both the government and the people at large. He said the size of the ministry was the lowest ever in 60 years thereby putting no extra burden on the State exchequer.
Azad said for the first time in 60 years, there were as many as 14 local officers independently heading different departments in civil secretariat. He said promotion avenues of KAS officers were increased. Their cadre strength was increased by 130. He said steps were also taken for their training in prestigious institutes of the country to change their outlook and broaden their horizon. He said that the recruitment process was on the fast track, adding that during the past five years, the coalition government had provided about 90,000 jobs while efforts would be made to provide another 70,000 this year. |
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