Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today exhorted upon the youth to become missionaries of change and play their role in shaping a politically stable and economically vibrant Jammu and Kashmir."A multi-dimensional strategy is being put in place by the government to tackle unemployment and related issues, so that our youth become economically self-reliant rather than hankering after white collar jobs,” the Minister said while interacting with a deputation of youth and Panchayat representatives from Rajouri district today.Spelling out various initiatives taken by the PDP-BJP coalition, Zulfkar said a new culture of deliverance and accountability is being infused in the administration so that benefits of the government’s pioneering welfare schemes percolate down to the grassroots level. “The coalition government is working tirelessly to provide much needed relief to the people of the State who have suffered immensely because of the misgovernance and corruption promoted and practiced by the functionaries of the NC-Congress regime during the past six years,” he said.
Zulfkar said when the PDBJP coalition government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assumed office earlier this year, the biggest challenge confronting it was not only to pull the state out of financial mess left behind by the previous regime but set off new initiatives on the developmental front so that the people feel the change. He said with various food and social security schemes like NFSA, Laadli Beti, Aasra, Marriage Assistance for Poor Girls and other welfare initiatives already in place, the people have started acknowledging the structural transformation taking place at the grassroots level. “The new era of hope that has started emanating across the length and breadth of the State is reminiscent of the 2002-2005 golden era of governance led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,” he said.Regarding strengthening of democratic institutions at the grassroots level, Zulfkar said elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies would be conducted soon to further strengthen the institutions of people’s empowerment and delivery mechanism in the State.Hailing the Government’s landmark initiatives like implementation of NFSA, launching of Skill Development Mission, Marriage Assistance Scheme for Poor Girls, Aasra and Laadli Beti, Zulfkar said these are path-breaking initiatives in ameliorating the deserving lot.
He said with the implementation of NFSA availability of food has become a matter of right for the poor. He said grievance redressal mechanism would also be established in all districts to ensure that the benefit of food subsidy reaches the poorest of the poor.Zulfkar said under Skill Development Mission critical gaps would be identified and focus would on enhancing capabilities and employability of the local youth through capacity building.The deputation raised various demands including strengthening of water supply and electric network in Rajouri, upgradation of road connectivity besides accelerating development activities in the district .Minister assured them early redress and said that efforts are being made to rope in all available resources under different sectors for transforming developmental landscape of the state.He said various reformative initiatives have been initiated under different sectors like convergence and MGNREGA; rationalization education sector, distribution of rations as per 2011 census besides launching new projects for upgradation of road connectivity in the state.