The Jammu and Kashmir government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held 137 cabinet meetings during the last five years where 1,147 important decisions were taken, an official statement said Monday.The Congress-National Conference coalition government completed five years in office Sunday."The state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, made as many as 1,147 important decisions aimed at public welfare, good governance and equitable development of all the regions and sub-regions of the state in its 137 meetings held during the last five years," said the statement, highlighting the government's achievements.The major decisions include the approval for holding the panchayat elections, the launch of Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY), appointment of the state chief information commissioner and state information commissioners, and approval to 6th Pay Commission recommendations for state government employees.
They also included approvals for exploitation of geo-thermal energy in Ladakh, construction of two-room housing complex for Kashmiri Pandits, scheme for empowerment of women, the protection of women from domestic violence bill, the heritage conservation bill and the amendments to the tourist trade act."The cabinet also approved creation of posts in newly created districts, creation of 18 polytechnic institutions and establishment of industrial training institutes," the statement aid. Development of Retli Power Project and enhancement of its generation capacity from 690 MW to 850 MW, the 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Project-II, and unbundling of HT/LT system in power development department, the state forest policy, the energy conservation bill, the anti-ragging bill 2011 and setting up of the national institute of fashion technology at Jammu were other major decisions.
The state cabinet also approved historic Public Services Guarantee Act which got subsequently passed by the legislature and is currently being implemented in 13 departments. The act, which has made some 80 important public services time bound, also provides for punishment and fine to the officials for any delay or denial in providing these services to the consumers in a prescribed time frame. The bill also provides for compensation to the affected consumers out of the fine imposed on the erring officer or official.The state cabinet gave approval to creation of 13 degree colleges, and also the roll out of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in the name of "Ummed" in the state to cover nine lakh rural families under its ambit. The scheme is intended to empower them by raising their economic status and organizing them in 90,000 self-help groups in all the 22 districts during the next five years.