Republic Day celebrated across Kashmir
Srinagar: Republic Day was celebrated across Kashmir on Friday with functions held at all district headquarters of the valley amidst tight security arrangements, officials said here.
The main function was held at the Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium here and Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajesh Rai Bhatnagar was the chief guest and presided over the function.
Braving cold, contingents of the police, CRPF, SSB, NCC and school children took part in the march-past where Bhatnagar took the salute.
After the parade, artists from various parts of the union territory performed at the cultural event.
While security force personnel were deployed in numbers to ensure smooth passage of the functions, the atmosphere in the city was visibly relaxed with fewer check posts set up to regulate traffic.
Concertina wires were also not used to block the intersections in the city.
The internet on mobile devices was not suspended, which used to be a regular feature of the security drill after the 2005 IED blast, triggered by using a mobile phone, outside the venue of the Independence Day function here.
Several functions were held at all district headquarters of the valley where respective deputy commissioners presided over the proceedings.
In his address, Advisor Bhatnagar said the administration has taken steps to put Jammu and Kashmir on the path to overall development.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing massive development from the last four, five years. From the health sector to physical infrastructure and from seamless citizen-centric governance through digital means to improved service delivery to the public, every sector has taken a flight of development.
He remarked that Robust Public Health infrastructure is essential for the progress of any developing nation, adding that J&K is witnessing a massive push in the establishment of world-class healthcare facilities.
He added that two AIIMS, two State Cancer Institutes, and other advanced health-care facilities are being established here.
The Advisor also reflected on other achievements like establishment of five new medical colleges at Rajouri, Kathua, Doda, Baramulla and Anantnag which are functional from their own buildings. He also added that work on new GMC Udhampur and GMC Handwara has started and the first batch of MBBS classes started in both the colleges with 100 students each started from the current year, enhancing the MBBS seats to 1300. He also highlighted that around 3000 health and wellness centres are operationalised in J&K UT so far.
The Advisor also highlighted that UT of J&K received the Bronze medal for significant achievement of more than 20 percent reduction (compared with the baseline of 2015) in the TB incidence during the ONE WORLD TB SUMMIT (“World TB Day 2023”), adding that districts Pulwama and Anantnag were awarded district-level award for achieving TB-free district status for more than 80 percent reduction in the incidence of TB from the baseline of 2015 with Budgam district having already been declared TB-free.
The Advisor also spoke in length about the road and other allied infrastructure development projects. He remarked that road and bridge infrastructure projects are essential for overall development of any region, adding that various flagship programmes and projects are in progress and some have been completed enhancing the overall transportation landscape across Jammu and Kashmir.
He highlighted that under PMGSY, the Central government has sanctioned 3,453 projects under PMGSY-I & II for construction of 19,049 Kms road length at an estimated cost of Rs. 12,565 Cr. He highlighted that 2107 habitations have already been connected by March 2023 and 12 habitations are connected during this year, adding that remaining 33 habitations are targeted to be connected by March 2024.
He also remarked that under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) of NABARD, a record number of 1,057 road and bridge projects for an amount of Rs. 4,550 Cr have been sanctioned since 2019-20, which include 183 projects sanctioned during 2023-24 at a cost of Rs. 913 Cr.
The Advisor also observed that from 2017 to 2020 total macdamization was 9,252 Kms whereas from 2020 to 2023 total length achieved under macdamization is 16,807 Km.
Highlighting about the achievements under Jal Jeevan Mission, Advisor Bhatnagar said that JAL JEEVAN MISSION, a flagship program launched by the Prime Minister, is progressing smoothly across Jammu and Kashmir and J&K has targeted to provide FHTCs by covering all its 18.70 lakh rural households with tap water connections capable of supplying water in adequate quantity
He remarked that with the saturation of 14.11 lakh out of 18.70 lakh rural households with tap water connections, Jammu & Kashmir crosses 75 percent coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission and enters into ‘High Achievers’ category at the national level.
The Advisor further said that the agriculture sector is witnessing a boom in Jammu and Kashmir. Holistic Agriculture Development Program for Agriculture, launched in April of 2023 has received overwhelming support from the farming community and in the last nine months, 50,000 applications from farmers and youth have been received on the Kisan Sathi portal of which 14,000 applications have been approved and these units are being established across the UT, he said.
Speaking on the tourism sector, Advisor Bhatnagar said that the tourism industry is one of the most flourishing sectors in the UT of J&K. This Industry is playing a pivotal role in the social and economic development and transformation of all the regions of J&K as a significant population is engaged in the tourism Industry directly or indirectly, he said.
Tourism sector in J&K has done exceptionally well and witnessed unprecedented growth in the year 2022, as more than 1.88 crore tourist visits have been recorded in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, the Advisor said.
He added that this phenomenal growth was also witnessed in the valley of Kashmir where total tourist visits were 26.7 lakhs in the year 2022, which is more than double than the previously recorded highest so far.
This positive trend has continued during the current calendar year as more than two crore tourist visits have been recorded till 7th December 2023, which is the highest recorded tourist visits so far, he said.
The number of foreign tourist visits have reached 51,297 till 7th Dec 2023 as against 17,611 in the year 2022 during the corresponding period marking a growth of roughly 200 percent, he said, adding that this growth has been achieved because of various policy initiatives, creation of conducive environment, facilities and aggressive publicity and promotional campaigns undertaken by the Government of J&K.
On the achievements in sports, Advisor Bhatnagar said that the Youth Services & Sports department has created robust sports infrastructure in all 20 districts of UT of J&K, possible only because of liberal funding by GOI under PMDP, Khelo India schemes and UT Capex Budget.
He added that international-level cricket and football stadiums have been established in MA Stadium Jammu and Bakshi Stadium Srinagar under PMDP besides Multipurpose Indoor Sports Halls have been constructed in all 20 districts.
He also added that our own Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi won silver and gold respectively in individual category and mixed team gold in Archery in Para Asian Games 2023 held at Guangzhou China. He also remarked that it is a proud moment for J&K that Sheetal Devi was conferred with the Arjuna Award by the President of India, extending his best wishes to the daughter of soil.
The Advisor also spoke in length about the remarkable development and achievements in other sectors.
On the occasion, colourful cultural programme was also presented by the artists of J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages as well as school and College students in the form of traditional Rouf, Bandpather, Dambali and others which mesmerised the audiences.
The Advisor also presented awards to winners of best march-past, best cultural programme as well as other categories.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, IGP Kashmir; Administrative Secretaries, DC Srinagar, senior officers of police and civil administration, heads of various departments, government officials and a large number of people and school children were present on the occasion.
