Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Information, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today said the J&K youth have enough potential and talent to crack any competitive examination.The Minister said this during the felicitation ceremony organized by Union Government here at Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shastri Bhawan, in New Delhi.Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas (Independent Charge), Dharmendra Pradhan felicitated Super-28 J&K students who had recently qualified Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).Speaking on the occasion, Zulfkar Ali said although J&K is passing through tough time, yet the young talent of the state if provided with opportunity can excel in any field and contribute in nation building process. He said that students of J&K need exposure and have potential to crack any examination.
Congratulating the students for cracking JEE, Zulfkar projected before Union Government to enhance the quota and assistance to J&K students and at least provide free coaching to 100 students during 2017-18. The demand was agreed by the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who announced imparting free coaching to 100 J&K students for next year. The Union Minister assured that the Government will expend Rs 2 lakh per student for this coaching.Choudhary Zulfkar Ali thanked Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Petronet LNG Limited , Indian Army and Centre for Social Responsibility & Leadership for sponsoring J&K students for free coaching.Petronet LNG Limited in collaboration with Indian Army and Centre for Social Responsibility & Leadership had sponsored 40 students of J&K State for Petronet Kashmir Super 40 financial assistance, among which 28 students qualified Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) which was held in April- May, 2017. Among these 28, nine students cracked advance examination which paved way for their admission in IIT and NIT and other institute of repute.Terming the negative perception in electronic media about Kashmir as unfortunate, Zulfkar said that there are brilliant students in Kashmir and all are not stone-pelters as projected by some of the electronic news channels. He said that the perception is tarnishing the image of the state as there is a great talent among the students of Kashmir and it has been proved in recent past.
“Our students are regularly cracking IAS exams. Couple of our boys even went on to top the examination,” he said, adding that the only need is to exploit the potential of J&K students in a better way and give them better opportunities.The Minister appealed other students of Kashmir to follow the path and show excellence in the field of education and technology so that they will help in developing J&K by applying modern techniques.Meanwhile, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali also held separate meeting with the Union Minister and projected various demands pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir. The Minister brought into the notice of Union Govt that M/s Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) was awarded the much hyped Bathinda –Jammu-Srinagar Gas Pipeline Project way back in 2011 and the company was entrusted with the execution of work but it has miserably failed to expedite the work on despite State Government’s full cooperation. He demanded that the work on the project may be expedited to make possible round the clock LPG supply to Jammu and Kashmir which faces shortage of cooking gas especially in winters due to closure of Jammu- Srinagar National Highway.Demanding inclusion of all BPL women in the lists to get free LPG connection, Minister said that a good number of deserving women have been left out from Socio Economic Survey conducted in 2011. He demanded to start Pradhan Mantra Ujjwala Yoga Plus scheme and include all the deserving BPL families in the list so that 100 percent target is achieved in making the state free from usage of unclean fuel for cooking purpose.The Minister also brought the need of opening of new LPG Gas outlets to Union Government notice. He said that there is need of opening of LPG outlet in each block of Jammu and Kashmir so that people would not face trouble in while collecting their refill cylinders.
Choudhary Zulfkar Ali also raised the point of making Jammu and Srinagar cities as CNG cities, besides establishment of Portable Petrol Pumps. He said that in view of difficult and hilly terrains and spread of population over vast area, the establishment of normal petrol pumps is difficult. He said that the need for establishing of portable petrol pumps especially in remote and inaccessible areas is need of the hour. He demanded to establish 1500 portable pumps in the State so that people have not to run to farther places for fuelling purpose. He also pressed for opening of new regular petrol pumps in the uncovered areas.The Minister also pressed for increase in subsidized kerosene oil quota. He demanded that the quota of the state may be restored to 90456 KLs and quota for Ladakh region needs to be enhanced to 5132 KLs from present 4632 KLs. He also reiterated the demand of setting up of petroleum depot at Anantnag and Rajouri.Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas gave patient hearing to the demands of Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali and assured every possible action. Prabhat Singh MD and CEO of Petronet LNG Limited was also present during felicitation function.