New Delhi’s biggest public outreach in J&K ends with assurance of second phase soon

32 ministers visited Jammu, 6 Kashmir; Reddy, Murmu review situation

JAMMU: Perhaps the biggest public outreach in the history of India, concluded on Friday when as many as 38 Union Ministers completed their week-long visit to over 60 places across the Jammu and Kashmir, with a promise of the second phase aimed at covering the remaining parts of the newly-created union territory.

As many as 8 union ministers- two of them arriving today—visited different parts of the region on Friday, with junior home minister G Kishan Reddy reviewing the programme here, before meeting Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu at the Raj Bhavan.

After ministers outlined the developmental agenda of the Centre for last one week, the government has set its eyes on bringing investment in J&K to generate employment avenues for the youth, starting with the Global Investors Summit which will be held in month of April.

The 38 union ministers who were tasked by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spread the message of development among the people of the union territory, had arrived here on Satudray last.

The ministers undertook extensive tour of the districts across 60 different locations, focusing on five different themes to drive home the message of the importance of the government policies with regard to overall development of the J&K and its people along with steps taken in this direction in the last 5 months.

In the outreach program being coordinated by the home ministry, 32 of these ministers came for public interaction in Jammu region while six visited Kashmir Valley on their arrival. Of course, some of these shuffled between the regions, this further enhancing the outreach campaign.

Over the past seven days, the Union Ministers interacted with the people to educate them about the schemes and projects being implemented or to be implemented by their Ministries in J&K.

The outreach programme covered five themes viz rapid development after Presidents Rule from June, 2018 and after reorganization in August 2019; 100% coverage of 55 beneficiary oriented schemes to all residents of J&K; rapid infrastructure development including implementation of PMDP; flagship schemes and iconic projects, good governance and rule of law with equality of opportunity to all; and rapid industrial and economic growth in all sectors wit focus on incomes and employment.

On the last day, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy reviewed the programme of Union Ministers at a high level meeting here, which was attended by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam; DGP Dilbag Singh; among other top officers.

Praising the J&K administration for organising programme in short span of time, Reddy said that this programme will usher a new dawn of development and prosperity in the region.

Reddy informed that Prime Minister Modi has directed all the departments of Central Government to develop a unique and additional programme for the development of J&K apart from various centrally sponsored schemes.

He added that PM’s vision is to make developmental benefits reach to the last person of society and this programme is part of that vision.

The Minister said that the central government’s focus right now is to bring investment in J&K to generate employment avenues for the youth.

“The Global Investors Summit which will be held in month of April will be a great opportunity for J&K in that direction,” he said.

The Minister also informed the meeting that during the 2nd phase of public outreach programme, the districts that have remained untouched during 1st phase will also be visited by the union ministers.

Later in the evening, Reddy met Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and discussed the internal security situation of the Union Territory.

The MoS and the Lt Governor discussed a range of issues pertaining to the internal security and law order management in J&K, an official spokesperson said.

They also had a discussion on the border management, administration of the Union Territory, management of Central Armed Police Forces, disaster management and implementation of several developmental projects and public welfare schemes in the UT.

Reddy also shared his views with the Lt Governor about the current security and developmental scenario in the UT.

He observed that the development of Jammu & Kashmir along with renewed growth prospects for the people and maintenance of security, peace and harmony in J&K is the foremost agenda of the Union government and all necessary steps would be taken in this regard.