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| Kashmir bags major share in funds allocation, Jammu still faces neglect | | Saga of discrimination | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah may be singing peens of redressing genuine grievances of people of Jammu region but when it comes to allocation of funds, official documents point out that Kashmir region enjoys a significant edge.
From tourism ministry to school and higher education ministries, Kashmir gets major share in allocation of funds. Interesting is the case of tourism ministry whose in charge is MLA from Ladakh Nawang Rigzin Jora. Ministry during the last two financial years released Rs. 4697.05 lakh (Rs.2404.55 for 2008-09 and Rs.2292.50 for 2009-10) for boosting tourism in Jammu region under the state plan.
On the contrary, the same tourism ministry allocated Rs. 10, 535.28 lakh during the last two financial years for Kashmir region. The only difference is that allocation was on the lesser side during the last financial year 2009-10 when the ministry allocated Rs. 4553.50 lakh for the development of tourism under the state plan as compared to Rs. 5981.78 allocated for the year 2008-09. Leh has got just Rs. 428 lakh for its tourism needs during the last two financial years.
Compared to allocation of funds by state tourism ministry for Jammu region, union government has seemingly taken note of developmental needs of this otherwise discriminated region and allocated more funds for catering to its tourism potential. Union government has allocated Rs. 7836.72 lakh for Jammu region under Prime Minister's Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) and for projects being implemented under centrally sponsored schemes (CSS).
Ladakh has managed to get a fare share of Rs. 1857.06 lakhs from the union government. Similarly, of the 19 tourism development authorities sanctioned by centre for Jammu and Kashmir, 10 of these are in Kashmir region while 9 are in Jammu region including 3 in Ladakh region. Ten authorities of Kashmir region were allocated funds to the tune of Rs.3811 Lakhs while those in Jammu region collectively managed to get a meager amount of Rs. 617.79 Lakhs which included Rs.105 lakh for Zanaskar in Ladakh region.
More importantly, while Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) in Kashmir region got the highest allocation of Rs. 1893 Lakhs, Kishtwar Development Authority (KDA) in Jammu region was allocated the lowest amount of Rs.10 Lakh along with Rs. 12.79 Lakh for Poonch Development Authority (PDA).
Regarding additionalilties released for various districts during the last financial year, an amount of Rs. 3496.48 lakh was released for Srinagar district and on the contrary, MLA's of Jammu district managed Rs.2067.88 Lakh as additionality for the financial year 2009-10. Samba district was given an additionality of Rs.3.50 lakh while an amount of Rs.24.47 lakh was released for Kathua district and Rs. 36.27 lakh for Reasi district.
In comparison to this, lowest allocation of additionality among all the districts in Kashmir region was Rs.110 lakh for newly created Kulgam district. Another area of concern is the allocation of funds for constructing buildings for newly created Degree Colleges. Four Degree Colleges in Kashmir being constructed in Kokernag, Gurez, Tangdhar and Dharmari areas were allocated a collective amount of Rs.662.09 lakh during the last two financial years viz. 2008-09 and 2009-10.
On the contrary, four colleges being constructed in Chatroo, Banihal, Budhal and Nowshera areas of Jammu region were allocated Rs. 271.22 Lakh which is far lesser than the amount released for colleges in Kashmir region. More ironically, Jammu region has suffered even in the release of funds for the two Universities of Jammu and Kashmir.
Of the two Universities, Jammu University along with its Bhaderwah campus and other campuses across Jammu region was allocated Rs. 1200 lakh during the year 2008-09 while Kashmir University along with its South Campus in Anantnag received an allocation of Rs.2710 lakh during the same period. |
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