LG vows to finish terrorism in J&K in one year
• Lays foundation stone of 25 DDC, BDC buildings
• Inaugurates 1000 Amrit Sarovars across J&K
• Launches 75 home-stays in rural areas to commemorate
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday said that the government will “strike the last nail in the coffin of terrorism” in the union territory in one year.
He made these remarks while speaking here at a function at SKICC where he laid the foundation stone of 25 DDC, BDC buildings and inaugurated 1000 Amrit Sarovars across the Union territory.
The LG said it is “our sacred obligation to defend every inch of the motherland and even if we have to sacrifice everything, we shall be ready”.
“Some people, at the behest of the neighbouring country, are trying to create disturbances in J&K. The neighbouring country which itself is living in misery, can’t do any good to the people of J&K,” he said without naming Pakistan.
“We have lost many innocent lives, now it has to stop. The right time has come to strike the last nail in the coffin of terrorism and its ecosystem. Your younger generation should not face the hardships that their forefathers went through. They must make the nation proud,” he added.
According to an official press release, Sinha also spoke about the thousands of youths in Tral Pulwama who paid homage to freedom fighters and “reverberated the sky with slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.”
He said in August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi bestowed the Union territory (J&K) with a gift of “new dawn of development and prosperity”.
“For 70 years, the socio-economic system of Jammu and Kashmir was facing serious crises and in the last three years, the Union territory has achieved great strides in the direction of reducing the gap between villages and cities that had only widened in the last seven decades,” Sinha said.
He said the implementation of 73rd and 74th Constitution amendments have given a new lease of life to grassroots democracy in J&K.
“We are determined to realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Poorn Swaraj through Gram Swaraj. Devolution of the three Fs – funds, functions and functionaries have truly empowered the PRIs to fulfill their mandated role,” he said.
According to the press release, Sinha said even though the three-tier system was implemented late in the Union territory, Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a great and effective example in this system and today, the step towards institutionalization of the offices of DDCs and BDCs, at a cost of Rs. 44.92 crore, will further strengthen and accentuate the efficiency of the Panchayati Raj system, making it the engine of community development in future
In all, the rural development department has approved the construction of 20 DDC and 285 BDC offices. 137 BDC offices will be set up in the Kashmir division and 148 BDC offices in Jammu division. The process of housing construction of all the respected DDC chairpersons has been accelerated, it was informed.
The Lt Governor also outlined that for effective implementation of developmental plans and policies at the grassroots level, ample resources have been kept at the disposal of PRIs.
“When the budget of Jammu and Kashmir was presented in Parliament this year, the goal of strengthening good governance and grass root democracy was placed at the top of the list of priorities,” he added.
On the construction of Amrit Sarovars, the LG said that the UT administration has been successful in building and rejuvenating Amrit Sarovars within the timelines and much more than the set target under the Mission Amrit Sarovar which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on the eve of National Panchayat Day at Panchayat Palli, Block Bari Brahmna, District Samba, UT of Jammu and Kashmir on April 24, 2022.
“The pace of creation, rejuvenation of water bodies remains quick to fulfill the Hon’ble PM’s vision of 75 Amrit Sarovar in each district,”, the LG added.
Noting that 3444 sites have been identified and work started on 1500 Sarovars and 1000 Sarovars have been completed, the LG expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders and common citizens for realizing the vision of the Prime Minister in this “Amrit Kaal Khand”.
Underling that our tradition and culture identifies water as a symbol of purity and life, the LG said that Amrit Sarovars will create a new environment of economic security and prosperity for the farmers and all those engaged in other activities as these rejuvenated water bodies will act as perennial sources of water for sustaining livelihoods, especially in rural areas.
The LG urged the PRI members to rejuvenate and develop more Amrit Sarovars in their respective districts, besides laying specific emphasis on the responsibility of the PRIs and administrative officers to ensure that rural development is well planned, with a balance of demand and supply and benefits percolating to all sections.
On the occasion, the LG also highlighted unique initiatives of administration “that have revolutionized the public service delivery in the UT and enhanced transparency and accountability in the system”.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, congratulated the PRI members, members of Self Help Groups, and people of J&K for the new initiatives. He said that the government is making dedicated efforts for the better present and glorious future of the people of J&K.
The Chief Secretary also called for developing a mechanism bringing closer the government departments, PRI representatives & rural people. He also highlighted various schemes and programmes under which the UT of J&K has achieved 100 percent saturation.
Meanwhile, Manoj Sinha also launched 75 home-stays in rural areas to commemorate the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in the 75th year of Independence, at a program organized at SKICC, an official press release said.
It said these home-stays are owned by SHG members of Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) in partnership with OYO Group under project ‘Crown of Incredible India’
Speaking on the occasion, the LG said that the country’s leading travel tech company OYO Group in collaboration with JKRLM would build 200 more home-stays by December 2022 to boost rural livelihood in Jammu & Kashmir.
The LG also observed that in a short span of time, Self Help Groups have emerged as a “powerful tool for women empowerment and socio-economic transformation in Jammu & Kashmir”.
“Under the banner of the UMEED programme, JKRLM is empowering rural women entrepreneurs. The Mission is also providing a national market to the local products. The launch of 75 home stays with OYO Hotels & Homes will prove to be a milestone in the pursuit of social equality, social justice and social security,” he added.
The partnership with OYO and the launch of Tourist Village Network, in which Mission Youth has selected 75 such villages under both the Jammu, and Kashmir divisions, known for their unique landscape, cultural diversity and heritage value will go a long way in expanding the tourism ecosystem to rural areas of UT, he added.
It was informed that the affordable tariffs offered by the OYO home-stays will cater to a better and immersive traveling experience. The home-stays have all the basic room amenities, great views, and provide an opportunity for travelers to experience beautiful rural landscapes and nature in its truest form.
Identified on the parameters of scenic beauty, landscape, cultural diversity and heritage, the 75 new home-stays are located at Udhampur, Poonch, Doda, Kathua and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Anantnag, Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar districts of Kashmir Valley.
Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission recently organized a workshop for home-stay owners in Srinagar on August 01 and 02, 2022. A similar workshop is going to be held in Jammu on August 16 and 17, 2022 for home-stay owners.
OYO has partnered with Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) to offer end-to-end solutions that would transcend beyond just listing of home stays on its platform. It includes identification of the homes, their audit, transformation and civil work, transfer of technology, training of homestay owners, branding and marketing etc., it was informed.
Commenting on the developments, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder, OYO, said “We are honoured to be a part of the “Crown of Incredible India” project which was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Lt Governor in February of this year. These homestays are a testimony to the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Lt Governor to widen and deepen the prospects for tourism in the country, provide sustainable livelihood to the rural community and also empower women. OYO is committed to play a meaningful role in strengthening the tourism potential in J&K with an innovative and collaborative approach.”
