Union Minister of State for Prime Minister Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh today laid foundation stone of J&K`s first ‘Seed Processing Plant & Storage Godown’ here at village Janglote, near Panchayat Ghar, Kathua.Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, DC Kathua, Rohit Khajuria, SSP Kathua, Shridhar Patil, Director Agriculture, S K Razdan, representative of National Seed Corporation Ltd and other district officers were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the plant will be made operational under the administrative control of National Seed Corporation Ltd.This initiative, once it attains its optimal scale, will help J&K become self-sustaining in seed production, Dr Jitendra Singh said, adding that that the processing unit will help farmers in increasing revenue in comparison with their income from traditional grain production and aims towards boosting the agriculture sector of the State along with doubling farmer’s income by 2022.He further informed that the farmers will be provided high quality seed of different varieties suitable for cultivation in accordance with the climate of the different regions of the State. After growing the same in their farms, the Corporation will purchase the same and the seed will be sold to Agriculture Department, after proper processing and certification, which in turn will supply it to farmers of the State for sowing the same in their fields to increase their production, he added.
Besides boosting the production of farmers in the State, over 1000 people will get employment through the Seed Processing Plant, directly or indirectly, the Union Minister maintained.Dr Jitendra Singh also divulged that in the past one month, three projects of national stature were sanctioned for Kathua which includes Shahpur Kandi project, Ujh Multipurpose project and a Seed Processing Unit besides National Institute of High-Altitude Medicinal Plants at Bhadarwah in Doda district. These projects after completion will not only generate employment but also improve the socio-economic profile of the region, he affirmed.Dr Jitendra Singh said that besides increasing the pace of development works in rural and urban areas, several facilities were raised for border dwellers including community and individual bunkers, Border Bhawan, Border fencing, 2 Battalions for border youths, cattle insurance, increase in relief compensation from Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 5 Lakh in case of border mishaps, reservation for IB residents at par with residents of LoC and construction of 350 toilet complexes.At the outset, MLA Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia highlighted several important projects initiated in Kathua district including widening of roads, tube wells in water stressed areas and augmenting PDD infrastructure.
The MLA informed that the tube well for village Pranta will be sanctioned soon whereas every panchayat of Kathua district has received Rs 40 Lakhs, approximately, for development and further said that the Kalibari-Janglote road widening project was sanctioned but is lagging for certain technicalities.He further stressed on establishing alternate connectivity to the educational hub comprising of University campus, Engineering College, KV and Army school at Janglote.Jasrotia also raised the demand of constructing railway over bridge at Janglot to streamline the traffic besides urged the Union Minister for resolving the long pending demand of PHE daily wagers.Earlier, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Digital Village’ project under Digi-Dhan at village Janglote in association with District Administration Kathua, under which skill enhancement training will be provided to the youth of the area to generate employment and strengthening rural economy.Later, he also participated in the ground-breaking ceremony of Dr K K Birla Public Park at Kalibari.