Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today unfurled the tricolor here at district police lines to commemorate 69th Republic Day in the district.The Minister took salute at the march past by the contingents of JKAP, JK Executive Police, CRPF, JK Lady Police, JK FPF, Home Guard and NCC, Senior and Junior Group Students of various government and private schools.Minister, while paying rich tributes to the makers of the constitution, said that its architects were men of high intellect as they framed the longest written document with highest principles of democracy, socialism, secularism and national integration. The Minister greeted the people on the occasion and expressed hope that such celebrations would further cement the bonds of love and amity among all segments of the society and promote national integration.Zulfkar, while spelling out the achievements of present dispensation, said that with the constant support and guidance of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the government is marching fast towards growth and development in every sphere. “The emphasis is being accorded on promoting the interests of socially and economically weaker sections, women, poor and down-trodden,” he added.
The Minister said that the government has laid special thrust on improvement in education sector with a spending of Rs 50.61 crore under RMSA, SSA and Elementary Education. “Under project Tameer, 100 buildings are being constructed for schools lacking accommodation in the district,” he added. He informed that government will establish 17 new degree colleges, 5 Eklavya Model Schools and 5 Gujjar Hostels with residential schools to further strengthen the education sector in the dsitrict.In Health Sector, the government has made steady progress by taking up of construction of 2 AIIMS one each at Srinagar and Jammu and 5 medical colleges, the Minister said adding that these medical colleges are expected to start functioning by end of 2019 for which the requisite staff and equipments have already been sanctioned. It would greatly improve the health facilities in the state besides increasing number of MBBS seats up to 1000, he affirmed.Zulfkar further elaborated the scope of employment under MGNREGA and benefits being provided under, PMUY, SKEWPY, Seed Capital Scheme, Youth Startup Scheme, other social security schemes, old aged and widow pension schemes besides other State and centrally sponsored flagship programmes. He added that the government has regularized the services of 60000 contractual and casual laborers, thereby providing a respectable livelihood to these families.
“The government is successfully implementing NFSA and MMSFES resulting an increase in the ration quota of the state to 12.61 lakh metric tons. The 100% digitization of record, end to end computerization, automation of fair price shop, online supply chain management and online grievances redressal has been completed by the department to ensure public friendly and pilferage proof PDS. Besides, 3.60 Lakh free LPG connections have been provided to BPL households under PMUY which will protect females and children from ill effects of household pollution,” the Minister said. he Minister lauded the enthusiasm and whole hearted participation of the people in the national celebration saying that unity, integrity, communal harmony and peace among the people of different regions and religions is indispensible for socio-economic development of the district.A colorful cultural programme depicting the rich cultural heritage of state was presented by the school children on the occasion which mesmerized the audience. The main attraction of the programme were Gojri, Pahari, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Dogri songs based on patriotic and pluralistic theme, marshal art show, skits and folk dances.
Later, Zulfkar distributed tabs worth Rs 6 Lakh among 36 meritorious students of Darhal constituency besides giving away consolation prizes, commendation certificates and mementoes to the participants and officers.Also present on the occasion were MLA Advocate Qamar Chowdhary, MLC Vibodh Gupta, Ex-MP Chowdhary Talib Hussain, DDC Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Senior officers of Civil and Police Administration, Army and CRP, district officers.Similar celebrations were also held across all tehsil headquarters of the district where flags were hoisted by the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates or Tehsildars.