A central team led by Union Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth has assured the Jammu and Kashmir government of full support for comprehensive development of the state.
“Union government is keen to see Jammu and Kashmir progressing in all sectors. We assure full central support to the state for comprehensive development,” Seth said chairing the joint meeting of Union Secretaries and State Administrative Secretaries in Srinagar on Monday.
The meeting came hours after Seth met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and discussed issues pertaining to economic development in the state.”During the meeting (between Omar and Seth), matters relating to the flagship programmes and centrally-sponsored schemes came up for a detailed discussion,” an official spokesman said after the meeting.
The Chief Minister said this year’s peaceful summer had resulted in a highly successful tourist season, particularly in the Valley.
It also contributed to fast-tracking development works and reaching out the benefits of the schemes to people across the state, Omar said.
On holding of peaceful, free and fair panchayat elections in the state this year, after a gap of about 30 years, he said the government was committed to establishing a powerful panchayat system.
“All the three levels of Panchayat Raj will be made functional over the next couple of months,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the state government was determined to hold elections to urban local bodies during the current financial year to ensure the transfer of powers at grassroot level and active association of the people with the development process.
The central team arrived in Srinagar on Sunday and had a detailed discussion with Governor N N Vohra on the internal and external security management of the state, the spokesman said.
Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, who led the state team, expressed gratitude to the Union government for extending liberal financial support to the state for achieving development goals.
He said the meetings with secretaries of central ministries during their visit has been “highly fruitful” as a number of issues were discussed and addressed.
The Cabinet Secretary reviewed the status of the centrally sponsored schemes and flagship programmes and complimented the state government for the progress.
He emphasised on time-line completion of physical and financial targets, the spokesman said.
He said the meeting discussed education, power, health, tourism, roads and railways, agricultural, horticulture, industries and programmes concerning the development of backward and poorer sections of the society.
Matters relating to the protection of environment, pollution control and afforestation also came up for discussion, the spokesman said.
Issues pertaining to skill development, training and employability of youth in various sectors were also deliberated upon during the review meetings, he said.
The spokesman said strengthening of Panchayat Raj at three levels and transfer of power and resources to panchayats and capacity building of members were also discussed in detail.