New Districts, Administrative units will bring revolution in remote and hilly belts of J&K: Azad

5 Dariya News (Muzaffar Bhat, Rouf Pampori)

Reasi-Udhampur 11-Apr-2014

“Creation of eight new districts during my tenure as chief minister followed by setting up of hundreds of new administrative units by ruling NC-Congress coalition government headed by chief minister  Omar Abdullah, will definitely bring revolutionary changes in rural, remote and hilly belts of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare,  Ghulam Nabi Azad while addressing series of largely attended public meetings in higher belts of Reasi, Ramnagar and Chenani Assembly segments.The statement said, “Following long pending and genuine demand of new districts, my cabinet created eight districts. I constituted Baloeria Commission to make a comprehensive report for further setting up of administrative units. Finally, during NC-Congress coalition, a cabinet subcommittee was constituted and headed by deputy chief minister, which held extensive tour of each and every part of the state and made a detailed report thereby creating hundreds of new administrative units including Sub pisions, Tehsils, Blocks and Niabats,” highlighted  Ghulam Nabi Azad and added that “these new administrative units would definitely bring a revolutionary changes in rural and hilly belts of the Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Now, you will not have to go far off to get your work done. Congress and NC had tried to end up your problems to a great extent. Now several government offices will be set up near you locations. And it would be very easy to get the work done. It is positive and constructive approach of Congress and NC, which always work for the betterment of the people irrespective of any caste, colour or religion,” stated  Azad further adding that “there are some political parties like BJP, which are always criticizing Congress with false allegations that Congress has done nothing for the people. When they come in your area, you must ask them who has started these developmental works? Who has built new Colleges? Who has built new Hospitals? Who has initiated the road projects? And I am sure that the BJP leadership will not be able to give a single answer of your questions.Highlighted the achievements of Congress UPA government in past 10 years,  Ghulam Nabi Azad said that “Congress has always made special projects for the up-liftment of poor and rural population. At least one AASHA worker in each village of the country,  13 crore rural people have been provided employment under MNREGA, setting up of hospitals including Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres in almost every village of the country besides free medical treatment for pregnant women and newly born babies are the examples which clearly shows how much work Congress party has done for the welfare of the people especially for the people living in rural and far flung areas of the country.”

Furthermore, UPA Government has taken a number of step for the poor people. “The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is the largest welfare scheme of its kind in the world started in 2006. Wages given under the scheme per day have almost doubled from Rs.65 to Rs. 128 since the launch of the scheme. In 2012-13, the scheme provided employment to over 4.98 crore households, generating more than 213 crore person-days of employment”, he said. Ghulam Nabi Azad further reminded the people that it was during his tenure the long pending demand of granting district status to Reasi was fulfilled during his tenure as Chief Minister. “For decades together people of Reasi were agitating for district, we fulfilled that demand”, he said and mentioned that it was all due to the efforts of National Conference-Congress regime that new administrative units were created to provide governance to the people at their door steps.

Lashing out at BJP for misleading the people of the country,  Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “BJP’s wave is confined only in media and some urban centres but in majority of the India, there is no such wave, he said, adding “in ground there is strong wave in favour of Congress party”. Like in the past, the NDA is playing colourful music and distributing sweets in anticipation of winning the polls, but it will meet the same fate as in 2004 and 2009, he said.“The UPA government has performed remarkably well. You don't get misguided by tall promises”, he said, adding, “Congress spoke about the poor and the common people. The party has always worked for unity and development of the country”.Among others who addressed the gathering including former Minister and sitting Congress MLC, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA, Krishan Chand Bhagat, senior Congress leader from Ramnagar Assembly segment, advocate R S Pathania and former Minister senior NC leader, Jagjivan Lal.