J&K development review meeting: Shah asks for early release of refugee package

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 18

Appreciating the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) administration under Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha for achieving 76 per cent Covid-19 vaccination in the Union Territory (UT) with 100 per cent in four districts, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today directed the officials that all refugees, who have come from PoJK, West Pakistan and from Kashmir to Jammu, should get the refugee package as early as possible.

After the review meeting, Shah in a tweet said: “All round development of Jammu & Kasmir is the top priority of the Modi government. In this connection today held a meeting to review the works being done in the UT and directed the concerned departments to speed up their implementation”.

In an official release the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) later said, the Home Minister held a review meeting here along with L-G Sinha and senior officials the Ministry and the UT administration and directed the officers to ensure the benefits of the refugee package to all the refugees from PoJK, West Pakistan and those, who had to migrate from Kashmir to Jammu at the earliest,” the release read.

During the course of the meeting the Home Minister also appreciated the efforts of the UT administration for making 90 percent reach of the Centre’s schemes in J&K.

Shah also asked for starting the 3000 MW Pakal Dul and Keeru hydroelectric projects and fast tracking other 3,300 MW projects.

“The Home Minister directed the J&K administration to ensure that all farmers are provided benefits of schemes being implemented for farmers, such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana, under which Rs. 6000 is deposited annually directly into the accounts of farmers and Kisan Credit Card Yojna, etc.,” the release read.

For strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, Shah directed officials to immediately organise training for the members and organise tours for them to visit different parts of the country and get first-hand knowledge of the working of such developed bodies.

“The Union Home Minister also stressed on increasing the scope of MGNREGA to provide employment to more and more people. At the same time, he spoke about the use of modern techniques in agriculture to increase the income of the farmers and to set up at least one agro-based industry in each district. He also said that work should be done to increase the quality and density of apple production in Jammu and Kashmir, so that apple growers will receive maximum price for the crop,” the MHA said in the release.

Asking officials to ensure that the benefits of the industrial policy reach smallscale industries, Shah appreciated efforts for providing employment to youth and institutional reforms like geo-tagging of all development works.