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| Saturday, August 19, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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J&K to uplift Gujjars, OBCs SRINAGAR, Aug 18 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched a number of schemes for the welfare and betterment of the socially and economically backward communities and weaker sections of the people. 10 handloom projects for
J & K sanctioned Pak can join talks later, says Mufti HC direction to govt on Amarnath
pilgrimage Migrant staff’s problems
discussed
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J&K to uplift Gujjars, OBCs SRINAGAR, Aug 18 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched a number of schemes for the welfare and betterment of the socially and economically backward communities and weaker sections of the people. These schemes include development of welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and people belonging to OBCs, development of Gujjars, Bakkerwals, Pahsari speaking people, implementation of Tribal Sub-plan and provision of nutritious food for poor children, pregnant and lactating mothers. Similarly a Council for the rehabilitation of militancy victims has been constituted by the government to provide financial assistance to orphans, widows, girl students, handicapped persons and re-marriage of widows. Council has, so, far provided financial assistance to 6396 beneficiaries. According to an official spokesman, under Social Welfare Sector, over Rs 15.69 crore was spent on various schemes during last year. Rs 489.58 lakh spent during 1995-96. Old age pension scheme, which is a major component of the sector, 110000 beneficiaries have been covered last year by spending Rs 681.00 crore and Rs 7 crore have been earmarked for the current financial year to cover 1.05 lakh
beneficiaries. The Government has paid over Rs 5.25 crore to 20,336 beneficiaries during 1999-2000 under this scheme as honorarium for AWWs/helpers. Besides, Rs 4.50 lakh has been paid as pre-matric scholarship to 1200 physically handicapped students. In addition to this, 333 post-matric the period. Under nutrition/ICDs scheme, 4.50 lakh beneficiaries were provided nutritious food for 200 days to poor children, pregnant, lactating mothers last year, involving Rs 8.04 crores. All 117 blocks have been covered under ICDS programme and over 10,000 Anganwari centres have been established in the State. Under Gujjar and Bakkerwal plan, 12 boys and girls hostel have been set up and over Rs 2.28 crore have been kept apart for providing pre-matric scholarships to the students of the communities. Similarly, Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked this year for providing pre-matric scholarships to Pahari speaking students. |
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10 handloom
projects for J & K sanctioned SRINAGAR, Aug 18 — The Centre has sanctioned 10 handloom development projects for Jammu and Kashmir at the cost of over Rs 3.14 crore under its project package scheme. Under the scheme, modern fly-shuttle and Tara looms are provided to the weavers on 25 per cent subsidy besides technical know-how and design in-put to give big boost to handloom sector. About 750 weavers shall get employment under these projects. This was disclosed at the 47th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation, under the chairmanship of Industries and Commerce Minister Dr Mustafa Kamal, who is also the chairman of the Corporation. The meeting was informed that the Centre had also sanctioned a project for development of softer and finer tweeds in the state. An international designer has been appointed to innovate latest designs in tweeds. The project will be completed by the end of January next. The Corporation has also engaged two designers with the assistance of Development Commissioner, Handlooms, Government of India, for producing new designs in upholstery and shawls. It was decided at the meeting that the corporation would open outlets in Guwahati, Chandigarh and Jammu. Arrangements have also been made with the Uttar Pradesh Handloom Development Corporation and the UP Industrial Cooperative Association for selling the products of J & K HDC in their sales outlets at Kanpur and Delhi. The meeting was informed that the Corporation had registered a production of 6.58 lakh metres during last fiscal year against a production of 5.03 lakh metres in 1998-99. The target of 8.25 lakh metres production has been fixed for the current year. The Corporation has achieved a sales turn-over of over Rs 7 crore during last fiscal year as compared to Rs 5.73 crore in 1998-99. The Corporation has fixed a target of Rs 9.76 crore sales turn-over for the current financial year. |
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Pak can join talks later, says Mufti SRINAGAR, Aug 18 (UNI) — Former Union Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said Pakistan’s involvement in talks for a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue was a must at the final stages.
“Nobody can ignore Pakistan which is a party to the issue and without its endorsement any agreement on Kashmir will not succeed”, the Mufti, also Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President, told mediapersons here. Let the people of Kashmir talk to the Government of India first and reach near the goal. Pakistan could join talks at the final stage, he said. He expressed optimism that negotiations between the Union Government and separatist organisations would resume again. The ground realities and pressure from the common man of Jammu and Kashmir would force all parties concerned to sit across the table and discuss the issue. He, however, said there should be no conditions from any side for initiating a dialogue on Kashmir. He said the ceasefire offer by the Hizbul Mujahideen and the positive response from the Union Government, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, generated a new hope across the sub-continent, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, that the days of death and destruction would soon be over. But vested interests, who did not want peace to return to the state, played a role to scuttle the process, he added. He appealed to all to give peace a chance in Kashmir as the issue, he said, could be resolved only through negotiations and not through bullets. |
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HC direction to govt on Amarnath pilgrimage JAMMU, Aug 18 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the central and state governments to inform it within four weeks as to what steps they proposed to make for the safe and smooth conduct of Amarnath pilgrimage in future.
There was an urgent need for ensuring smooth and safe conduct of the yatra in future, considering the inadequacy of arrangements this year, which led to the killing of several pilgrims by militants at Pahalgam, a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Dr B.P. Saraf and Mr Justice O.P. Sharma, observed yesterday, while hearing a public interest litigation by the Amarnath Yatra Samiti and others. Petitioner’s counsel drew the attention of the court to reported announcement by Defence Minister George Fernandes immediately after the Pahalgam killings that the government had decided to plan security arrangements much in advance of the commencement of the yatra to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future. The counsel informed the court of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s statement that a Bill would be introduced in the next Assembly session for constituting a shrine board for Amarnath Yatra on the lines of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The court observed that it appeared that the matter was under serious consideration of the state and central governments and directed them to inform the court within four weeks on the proposed steps in this regard. |
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Migrant
staff’s
problems discussed SRINAGAR, Aug 18 — Problems of the Kashmiri migrants at
Jammu and elsewhere were discussed at a high-level meeting here
yesterday.
While considering the demand for grade benefits to the employees promoted after their migration, grant of HRA and CCA to all migrant employees, it was decided that a memo will be prepared soon in this behalf and submitted to the cabinet for its consideration, an official spokesman said. The meeting, presided over by the Minister for Revenue, Mr Abdul Qayoom, decided that no such steps, even with good intentions should be taken which would dissuade the migrants from returning to the valley. The government is eager to see that the migrants return to their homes with dignity and an Action Plan to this effect is under finalisation with the State government for its submission to the Central Government, the meeting was informed. The Revenue Minister urged the officers to take immediate steps for the redressal of other pending demands of migrants. |
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