The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today said the Rs 80000 crore Reconstruction Plan announced by the Prime Minister would transform J&K’s developmental landscape and a mechanism would be soon put in place to ensure productive utilization of these funds. He said the package is comprehensive and caters to all key developmental sectors.The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing a mammoth gathering after laying foundation of a modal middle school at Karan Wara Basohli in Kathua district.Member Parliament Shamsher Singh Manhas, Vice Chairman Kissan Advisory Board D S Chib, Ms Mamta Singh and the Zonal Head of J&K Bank, Mr Vijay Sahani were present on the occasion.To be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21.87 lakh, under centrally sponsored Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan (SSA), the Model School would be having eight rooms including dining hall and a kitchen.The Member Parliament, Mr Shamsher Singh Manhas announced Rs 10 lakh out of his MPLAD fund for the Model School.
As a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, JK Bank would provide four computers with peripherals, water cooler with purifier, desk-top printer and other related infrastructure for the school.The Deputy Chief Minister said that the comprehensive package announced by the Prime Minister would go a long way in accelerating the pace of development in the state as it caters to every sector. “The onus now lies on us to ensure its full utilization and people should also contribute their bit by actively involving themselves in its implementation’’, he added.Highlighting the importance of the Prime Minister’s package, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the an amount of Rs 11000 crore has been earmarked for upgradation and augmentation of the power sector and the day is not far away when the state would be get 24x7 supply of electricity. He said this in turn would accelerate the industrial growth generating more employment opportunities for the local youth besides elevating the socioeconomic profile of the people.
Referring to the development initiatives undertaken in the Kathua district, Dr Singh said that the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway would be getting alignment through this area besides the Ranjit Sagar Dam would be developed as a Water Sports and tourism hub. He said the area would also be getting the railway connectivity as the survey would be done soon and maintained that it has been the endeavor of the government to ensure that the state comes up as one of the model states of the country.Later, the Deputy Chief Minister attended a function at Government High School Sabar, Basohli organized in connection with the celebration of the Children’s Day.Speaking on the occasion the Deputy Chief Minister asked the students to imbibe the high cultural and educational values of great Indian civilization to succeed in different facets of life. He said the students are the building bricks of the nation and the onus lies on us to provide them quality education and related facilities so that they can effectively compete at national and international levels and bring laurels to the state.
Enumerating the highlights of Laadli Beti scheme, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it would go a long way in creating a positive disposition towards the girl child in the state so that the decline in the sex ratio is reversed.He said the centre has also introduced the MUDRA scheme for giving easy loans to the small and marginalized entrepreneurs. “The focus is to judiciously use the human resource for increasing the overall growth rate of the country so that it emerges as one of the global leaders”, he added.The Deputy Chief Minister gave on spot directions to the Chief Education Officer, Kathua for erecting the fencing wall of the school besides constructing toilet facilities and giving other related amenities.