Srinagar 15 August (KNB): In the 5th episode of “Awaam ki Awaaz” radio programme, aired today on all local & primary channels of All India Radio (AIR) stations in the UT, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, expressed his best wishes to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of 75thIndependence Day. “The UT of J&K is celebrating the Amrut Mahotsav of Independence Day with great joy and gaiety”, he said.
A statement issued to news agency Kashmir News Bureau said that observing that J&K today is making significant strides in ensuring the development and prosperity of its people, the Lt Governor said that people of the erstwhile state have greatly suffered due to decades of unbalanced, lopsided development. “It is now our collective responsibility to fill that gap through concrete measures on every front for equitable development of every section in J&K. Though the work has begun, much more is yet to be done. It is the only reason, I earnestly wait for the third Sunday of every month so that the efforts of the UT Government could be taken ahead working on the ideas and suggestions I receive”, he added.
Appealing citizens of the UT to come together with a resolve to build a New Jammu Kashmir, the Lt Governor said that the present path of J&K’s development has been set after so many decades and with ‘Jan-Bhagidari’, people-centric policies are being formulated and implemented. The current governance decisions are bringing a positive change in the daily life of a common man by creating conducive environment.
In his interaction, the Lt Governor highlighted a host of invaluable suggestions and ideas received from citizens cutting across different walks of life; calling for and suggesting meaningful changes and interventions in policy and programmes of the government aiming at more effective outcomes, streamlining procedures, optimum resource utilization, among others.
Responding to the suggestion of Sh. Mir Junaid of Srinagar, calling for starting Cloud based e-Hospital services to replace the system of appointments, tickets in hospitals and regulating the working hours of doctors and health workers, the Lt Governor asked the health department to take appropriate action on it for incorporating robust technical interventions to complement the changing scenario of Health infrastructure in the UT which has already witnessed massive transformation at the infrastructural and the human resource level in the past one year.
The Lt Governor also welcomed various other suggestions received for improving the health sector vis. a vis. Strengthening the Jan Aushadhi Kendras, inventory management, supply chain and availability of doctor’s prescribed medicine. He directed the health department to take up the suggestions meticulously for suitable action. He informed that a total of 103 Jan Aushadhi Kendra has been established across 20 districts of the UT to provide medicines up to 50% less than the market rates.
Referring to the suggestion of Dr. Isha Kohli from Jammu for considering Dental Surgeons for filling the vacant posts of District Program Coordinators advertised recently by the State Health Agency, the Lt Governor observed that directions have already been passed to the health department to look into the issue for appropriate action.
Recalling his address of the last episode of ‘Awaam ki Awaaz’ where he mentioned about the very low number of vacant Dental Surgeons’ posts, the Lt Governor said that the decision was taken to provide them financial assistance under ‘Mission Youth’ for facilitating Dental surgeons to open their own clinics.
Referring to the suggestion of Ms. Parul Sharma from Sunderbani, Rajouri, on the issue of pending cases of compassionate appointments and supporting the families of persons who lost their lives in Nation’s service, the Lt Governor assured that the UT Administration is committed to take decisions based on compassion, empathy and sensitivity, so that the life of common man could be improved.
The Lt Governor observed that citizens of J&K today have a renewed sense of consciousness. They are now demanding details about the achievements of the last 75 years and it is painful to see that despite receiving massive central government funds not much has happened on the ground. “It has only been a legacy of delays, corruption & feigned compliance and it will be rooted out”, he added.
“Today J&K is witnessing an unprecedented revolutionary change. And the overwhelming flow of innovative ideas and suggestions from the citizens is reflective of their unfettered trust in the system owing to the radical reforms they are seeing in J&K, perhaps for the first time in their human consciousness. That is why the aspirations of the people have increased and we are trying our best to fulfill them”, the Lt Governor noted.
Lauding the suggestion of Sh. Riyaz Ahmed from Reasi, for upgrading the Library System and taking it to the panchayat level, the Lt Governor said that efforts are afoot for incorporating digital libraries with Youth Clubs in every panchayat and it would be a game changer. The Libraries department is working on it together with a team of experts to implement this project at the grassroot level.
Speaking on the suggestion of Sh. Mir Aakib Khaliq of Baramulla for providing skill training and free coaching facilities for various competitive exams like UPSC to the meritorious children from marginal sections, the Lt Governor informed that plans are already underway to establish two centres each in Srinagar and Jammu under ‘Mission Youth’ to impart free of cost coaching for competitive exams to meritorious children from marginal sections.
The Lt Governor said that decision has been taken to provide 8000 eLearning tablets to tribal children and directions have been issued to the education department to provide the same to other meritorious students of the UT. He informed that directions have also been given for providing scholarships to all eligible children belonging to poor families. This year more than 8 lakh scholarships have been provided and for children belonging to tribal community scholarship amount of Rs 30 crore has been approved recently.
During his address, the Lt Governor directed CEO Mission Youth and all Deputy Commissioners to take action on the suggestion of Sh. Rahul Sharma for ensuring that nomination and selection in youth clubs is done in fair and transparent manner. He said that preference should be given to promising talents in every part of the UT and we are laying a robust mechanism for it because only a worthy guide can show true path to his followers.
Responding to the suggestion of Sh. M K Vishwasthali for employment generation through IT Service Kiosks, the Lt Governor directed the concerned department to take suitable action on it at the earliest.
The Lt Governor noted that the Future belongs to innovative ideas. These will not only make peoples’ lives convenient but will also possess the power to create 100 percent employment opportunities for our youth.
On being informed about the delays in installation of signal towers for mobile connectivity in Machhil, Gurez, the Lt Governor assured Mohd. Abbas that during his visit to Bungus valley recently, he has asked the concerned department to submit a fact-finding report in the delays and directed them to complete the work in the shortest possible time. He appreciated Mohd. Abbas for writing to him about the matter and also assured him that if anybody is found guilty in the delays, appropriate action would be taken against them.
Thanking Sh. Sunil Kumar of Doda, Sh. Darshan Kumar of Poonch and Sh. Rishi Kumar of Doda who gave suggestions on educational reforms including introduction courses of Mass Communication and Tourism in Higher Secondary level; departmental exam based promotion of officers/Teachers of Education department; revamping of DIETs, the Lt Governor said that while chairing the review meeting of education department he had directed for constituting District level committees for assessing performance, invoking scientific temper and working as per the NEP.
Directing the School education department for taking action on the above suggestions, the Lt Governor said that many initiatives have been taken to devise syllabi as per the NEP along with continuous training and capacity building of educators.
From the platform of ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’, the Lt Governor appealed people to rise above the barriers of religion, caste, language and participate wholeheartedly in the revival of Indian culture. This cooperation, we will not only revive our heritage but would also enable us to break down the walls of discrimination.
The Lt Governor said that a few days ago, the J&K Government signed an MoU with JSW Foundation for restoration and conservation of Shalimar & Nishat Gardens. JSW Foundation has already conducted a study for conservation and restoration of pious Shiv Khori in Reasi too.
“While the country is celebrating the Azaadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, I also expect all government departments, elected public representatives and citizens to make continuous efforts for preservation of our cultural heritage in spirit of celebrating our national treasure”, the Lt Governor observed.
The Lt Governor also highlighted suggestions from Sh. Virendra Kumar from Doda; Sh. Chandra Bhushan from Ram Nagar, Udhampur calling for the restoration of important heritage sites in their respective areas.
The Lt Governor assured them that appropriate action will be taken for the restoration of our heritage. He said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, great work has been done to preserve India’s heritage. Countries like USA, Australia, Canada, Germany have returned many old antiquities to India.
Noting that Shri Narendra Modi is the only Prime Minister who brought back the mortal remains of revolutionary freedom fighter Sh. Shyamji Krishna Varma from Switzerland, who had dedicated his life for the country’s independence, the Lt Governor said that the whole idea behind Azaadi ka Amrut Mahotsav is to introduce the young generation to the roots of our culture so that they can be fully prepared for the upcoming challenges.
The Lt Governor mentioned about Sh. Kranti Bhushan of Trikuta Nagar Jammu who suggested for preparing a District wise list of all heritage sites and introducing chapters on local culture and heritage to the children in schools from 8th standard onwards, besides acquainting the youth with the ancient culture of Jammu and Kashmir by including the subject ‘Heritage Conservation’ in the Skill development training.
“To rekindle the consciousness within the new generation in the society, it is necessary that they should be introduced to their roots, to their heritage, only then the formation of original personality is also possible”, noted the Lt Governor.
The 5th episode of ‘Awaam Ki Awaz’ also highlighted several suggestions received for augmenting the supply of drinking water and strengthening the drainage system.
Sh. Malik Nasrullah of Kulgam wrote that Brinal village, which has a population of around 11,000, does not have clean drinking water. He suggested that the problem can be solved by installing a filtration plant in the nearby forest area. The Lt Governor, while recalling his visit to Kund village in Kulgam, observed that this year Rs 341 crore has been allocated for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the district and Jal Shakti Department has already been directed to achieve the target of connecting every household within set timelines.
On Sh. Ajit Singh’s suggestion calling for promotion of various beautiful places in Ramban district having huge tourism potential, the Lt Governor observed that during the review meeting of the Tourism Department, discussions were held on promoting tourist places in Ramban and other districts of Jammu division and expanding the tourism facilities there.
While concluding his address the Lt Governor said that, two years ago, a new era was ushered in Jammu and Kashmir. We need to work for peace and progress and that is the only befitting tribute to the great sacrifices made by our ancestors, freedom fighters, who give us a chance to breathe in the free air and to express ourselves freely. (KNB)