M A I N   N E W S

PM announces sops worth over Rs 1,000 crore for J&K
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 8
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured the state government of full support to carry the developmental process forward and complimented Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on providing effective leadership.

“The Centre will do everything to support the state in its development process,” the Prime Minister told Omar during a high-level review of development activities in the state here today.

“It is heartening to note that the state government has gone in for tariff-based bids even for hydroelectric projects,” the Prime Minister said.

Besides Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and other cabinet ministers, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, TKA Nair, the National Security Advisor, Shiv Shanker Menon, the Media Advisor to the Prime Minister, Harish Khare, and the Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Sanjay Mitra, also attended the meeting.

The Chief Secretary, SS Kapur, led the high-level state officers’ team. The Prime Minister has announced sops amounting to over Rs 1,000 crore for the state. Singh ordered the restoration of cuts amounting to about Rs 400 crore in the state Plan outlay for 2009-10. He also announced the decision of the Centre to dispense with the cut on the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme allocations of the previous year, amounting to Rs 691 crore.

Dr Manmohan Singh announced three cultural centres for Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis and computer labs in selected schools for self-help groups of women belonging to the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. He also announced an additional allocation from the Union Ministry of Tribal Welfare for community- based volunteer scheme for delivery of health and education to nomadic groups.

The Prime Minister assured to look into a suitable mechanism to financially support the state in implementing the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations in regard to payment of arrears. However, he expressed disappointment that a section of the state government employees responded to strike calls by separatist groups and failed to discharge their duties in the service of people.He hoped that all public servants shall discharge their duties in a dedicated manner. Earlier, the Chief Minister himself made a comprehensive power-point presentation to the Prime Minister covering all key sectors. He highlighted critical gaps in the infrastructure, emerging challenge in the delivery of public service.