- ‘Security situation has improved’
- Spells out highlights of 2023-24 UT Budget
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Exuding confidence that Rs 1,18,500 crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir will fulfill the dreams of all, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said an unprecedented number of tourists visited the Union territory last year as the security situation has improved.
He also said investment proposals worth Rs 70,000 crore have been received for industrial development.
“There is huge improvement in the law-and-order situation. It has good results as an unprecedented number of 1.88 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. This is the previous year’s figure,” Sinha told a press conference here.
“Till late night, people are enjoying Sikara rides. They are taking dinners at restaurants and hotels. Cinemas are running smoothly,” he said.
The LG said night bus services have started in Kashmir. “I think this has started after 30 years. Schools and colleges and universities are running smoothly. Shops remain open,” he said.
On the budget approved for Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said, “It is first budget of Amritkaal. It is the third time that Jammu and Kashmir’s budget has exceeded Rs one lakh crore to order ensure development. This budget will give a fillip to the development journey during Amritkaal.”
“We are trying to fulfil the dream of new Jammu and Kashmir during the last three years,” he said.
The LG said the Rs 1,18,500 crore budget will fulfil the dreams of all. “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman from the core of my heart for this budget. I am indebted to the Union home minister too”.
Spelling out the highlights of the budget and achievements registered on various front, the Lieutenant Governor said Jammu and Kashmir has been among top performers in the country for implementation of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Amrit Sarovar, SVAMITVA Scheme, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Nasha Mukt Abhiyan and Renewable Energy Development. Most of the social security schemes have been saturated in the Union Territory.
Under “My Youth My Pride, Har Din Khel Har Ek Kay Liye Khel” nearly 50 lakh youth have participated in different sports activities this year while 445 online services are being provided under Digital J&K initiative,
e-UNNAT portal.225 e-services have been integrated with Rapid Assessment System for real time feedback on quality of service delivery. All the online services have been linked with Public Service Guarantee Act in the Union Territory.
J&K is the first among States and the Union Territories to have District Good Governance Index for assessing the public service delivery at district level. Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme, Aspirational Block Development Programme and Aspirational Town Development Programme are the three new initiatives being implemented in J&K; Highest ever investment of Rs 1547.87 crore received during the last 10 months of this year.500 start ups have come up during last 3 years; Unemployment rate is marginally reduced; 33426 Posts have been referred to recruiting agencies.25450 selections have been made including 2436 selections of J&K Bank Limited. Around 2, 02,749 youth have been covered under various self-employment schemes and target is to cover 2, 37,000 by end of current year.
Next year around 3 lakh will be covered under all the self-employment schemes.
In 2018-19, 9228 works have been completed while 12637 works have been completed in 2019-20; in 2020-21, 21943 have been completed and In 2021-22, 50627 works have been completed and this year we expect 70,000 works to be completed. This is the paradigm shift in the pace of development in J&K over the last three to four years.
The road construction has nearly doubled to 3200 kilometres against 1500-1600 Km in 2018.
E-office is being extended in all offices in Jammu and Kashmir apart from creation of online census management system; intelligent ticketing management system by JKRTC; creation of e-invoice system of GST, GST Data Triangulation and transition of GST IN into GST PRIME; Linking of e-way bill to FASTag and VAHAN; creation of single unique helpline in J&K and E-bill system on PWOMAS is to be extended to other Department.
In the agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 3156 crore have been allocated while a holistic Agriculture Development plan is to be rolled out, with 29 proposed projects at an outlay of Rs 5012 crore over a period of next 5-years under the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Mission; additional job opportunities to 2,87,910 people in agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors while 18,861 new business enterprises will be created over the period of next five years.
Further 67000 Metric Ton CA Storage Capacity is to be created; honey production will be tripled over next 5 years; trout and carp production to be doubled over the next five years; milk production to reach 45 Lakh MTs from 25 Lakh MTs over next five years while support for development of High Density Nurseries for Private and Public entities is envisaged.
Under Health and Wellness- Rs 2094 crore have been allocated.
Full implementation of Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) norms will cover infrastructure deficit under Health Sector, reinforce Anaemia MUKT J&K, 100 per cent screening of Non Communicable Diseases; Health screening at Panchayat level; 100% screening of school children; Tribal ASHAs and Mobile Medical Units for Tribal Areas; Establishment of 25 Urban health & Wellness Centres and 57 Block Public Units
In Rural and Urban Development sector Rs 7097 crore allocated for implementation of various schemes including Aspirational Panchayat Development programme and Aspirational Town Development programme.
Under Swachh Gaon Aur Swachh Shahr, all the villages and ULBs will be declared Open Defecation Free plus status (ODF plus); 2420 Amrit Sarovars already completed, remaining to be completed by 15th August, 202; 10,000 further SHGs to be formed; 1500 new Panchayat Ghars to be constructed under “Har Panchayat-Panchayat Ghar “initiative; 40,000 new houses for houseless families under PMAY-G; 18934 dwelling units to be completed under PMAY-U; new 87,350 IHHLs and 2500 CSCs to be constructed; Sewage Management of Dal Lake to be accomplished; 89.83 MLD STPs to be installed benefitting 6, 20,565 people; Rs 1313 crore provided for PRIs and ULBs; Rs 271.25 crore for DDCs/BDCs; elevated light Metro Rail in Capital Cities of Jammu and Kashmir to be rolled out; new Townships and Housing Colonies to be established for economically weaker sections /low income group/Middle Income group at Jammu and Srinagar; establishment of Ladies HAAT and Ladies Exclusive Markets in Jammu, Srinagar and other Major Towns; Creation of EKTA Malls; promotion of circular economy; scheme for disposal of electronic waste and Rs 50 crore envisaged under Samridh Seema Yojina for development of Border Areas
Rs 1522 crore have been allocated for the Education Sector for full implementation of National Education Policy (NEP); 2000 Kindergartens are proposed to be established during 2023-24 for providing quality pre-primary education; Samarth “ERP eGov Suite”, will be fully implemented in 2023-24; drinking water facility and gender based toilet facility in all the Schools; Yoga Training for all the students to be introduced as part of co-curricular activities; 188 virtual reality labs and 40 robotic labs to be established; 10 residential schools to be established with preference to tribal students and students from weaker sections; 1000 smart class rooms with LCD and high speed internet connectivity to be established.
An outlay of Rs 742 crore has been allocated for the industrial sector which envisages setting up of 29 new projects for development of industrial estates during 2023-24; quality certification with branding under Handloom and Handicraft sector; setting up of Medicities in Jammu and Srinagar; 1500 Units to be covered under J&K REGP with employment to 9000 persons; one district one product to be promoted and Districts to be developed as fulcrum of export; tie-up of MSMEs with E-Commerce Platforms; MSME Policy to be notified; reducing compliances on “Ease of Living” and “Ease of Doing Business”; full implementation of Gati Shakti; creation of export hubs and QR Code and GI tag of handloom and Handicraft products to be promoted.
Under Employment and Skill Mission, Rs 200 crore allocated for Mission Youth and Rs 133 crore for Self Employment and Skill. While vacant posts would be filled on fast track basis; target to cover 3 lakh youth under various self-employment schemes in 2023-24; creation of Skill Hubs; skill loans from J&K Bank for aspiring candidates; up skilling of Youth through Youth Clubs; training workshop on wheels to be introduced besides establishment of six model career centres.
Over Rs 4000 crore have been allocated for road connectivity; 6000 Kilometers of black-topping of road length targeted for 2023-24; 353 new projects under NABARD; completion of 60 new bridges; passing Bays at all major roads; key roads to be developed as part of G20 summit meetings; safety audit of bridges having completed in 10 years besides road to every village to be ensured.
Under water to every household programme, Rs 5500 crore allocated for 2023-24. All 18.36 Lakh households of Jammu and Kashmir to have Functional Household Tap connections by 2023-24 under JJM; Tawi Barrage to be completed in 2023-24; 60 water supply schemes to be completed; implementation of Jehlum Flood Management Part B; desilting of irrigation canals with timelines and online billing for water consumers on monthly basis
Under Power Sector, Rs 1965 crore have been allocated; 100 per cent consumer metering envisaged by 2024-25; capacity addition of 854 MVA at 132 KV level and 1300 MVA at 220 KV level; addition of length of HT/LT network by 1324 kms; underground cabling at Nunwan for reliable power supply to Holy Cave of Shri Amarnath Ji; grid connectivity to Gurez and underground cabling for ensuring power supply to Sonamarg in winters; reduction in Transformer Damage rate; power Generation capacity to be doubled in 3 years with more than 3000 MW Capacity addition; construction of 540 MW KWAR HEP to commence in 2023-24.
For Tourism Mission, Rs 447 crore have been allocated. While 75 new destinations, 75 Sufi/religious sites, 75 new cultural/heritage sites and 75 new tracks are being developed for economic gain of tourism industry, promotion of Film Tourism is on the anvil. Preservation and promotion of heritage sites and promotion of traditional and cultural festival; conservation/Development of Sufi/ Religious circuits, heritage site of Shergari complex and old SPS museum to be restored; development of Water Parks at Jammu and Srinagar; Abhinav Theatre at Jammu and Tagore hall at Srinagar to be upgraded; Caravan Tourism to be introduced; water sports activities at Dal, Wular, Mansar and Bhagliyar Dam site and Fort at Samba, Naristan Tral, Hari Parbat at Srinagar and General Zorawar Singh palace at Reasi to be refurbished.
For Sports activities, Rs 145 crore have been allocated; around 70 Lakh youth to participate in different sports activities during 2023-24; high performance centres to be established in Fencing, Wushu and Gymnastics; Cricket, Football, Volley Ball and Wushu academies to be established; Yoga centres at Moulana Azad Stadium Jammu and Bakshi Stadium Srinagar to be established; 25 national events to be hosted in different sports events under “Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat” Abhiyan; women participation in sports and para athletics to be encouraged.
Under Social Security, Tribal Welfare and Relief/Rehabilitation sector, Rs 1246 crore have been earmarked for Old Age/widow/Disability pension, Rs 245 crore for Ladli Beti scheme and Rs 80 crore for Marriage Assistance scheme and Rs 447 crore for Tribal Development besides scholarship to 1, 24,300 pre-matric students belonging to SC/OBC/EBC and Physically challenged categories; District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRC) to be established in all 20 districts, imparting of training for specially abled persons; creation of Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) – Mahila Shakti Kendras; establishment of GPS enabled women helpline; construction of working women hostels; introduction of buses and pink taxies for women; women only bus drivers and conductors to be introduced; 24 ST and Gujjar / Bakerwal hostels to be completed; seven transit accommodations for nomadic population to be established; market linkage and transport facilities to tribal families for the seasonal migration of their goods and cattle; Rs 400 crore provided for construction of transit accommodations for Kashmiri Migrant employees to be provided. Further 1984 transit accommodations to be completed in 2023-24; remaining posts of 355 out 6000 posts under PM Package for Kashmiri Migrants to be filled (Rs 309 crore provided for salaries) while cash assistance and food grains for Kashmiri/ Jammu Migrants to continue (Rs 393 crore allocated)
Under Forestry and Environment sector, Rs 508 crore allocated including CAMPA under which 1.50 crore saplings are targeted to be planted; 4290 Village Panchayats to be covered under “Har Gaon Hariyali” plantation drive; Jambu Zoo will be ready and thrown open shortly; Plastic Free Forests” initiative, as a campaign and PARIVESH 2 to be implemented
For Science and Technology, Rs 110 crore have been allocated. While 9000 solar agriculture pumps will be installed under PM-KUSUM; 80 MW roof top solar power plants will be installed at Jammu and 3 MW at Srinagar; demonstration farms of aromatic and medicinal plants to be established; grid connected roof top solar power plants to be installed in all the Government buildings in a phased manner; construction of Energy Bhawan at Jammu to be completed apart from subsidy scheme for installation of roof top solar power plants in domestic sector.
For Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs sector, Rs 391 crore have been allocated. While digitisation of store inventory and complete implementation of supply chain management to ensure timely distribution of food grains; implementation of e-rupee in deliverance of Public Distribution System will be ensured
For the Cooperatives, Rs 25 crore have been allocated for restructuring of cooperative banks; digitalisation and compilation of data of all cooperative societies in data base management system; 80 new food processing units to be set up and made functional; establishment of women Led Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Cooperative Societies members to be saturated with Artisan Credit Cards.
For the Police Welfare,Rs 799 crore have been allocated which entails construction of police housing colonies for police personnel; two hostels for wards of Police Martyrs and two hostels for wards of Armed Forces (Ex-servicemen) apart from upgradation of police hospitals and police public schools.
While CCTV Surveillance system will be completed in all police stations and police posts, installation of CCTV cameras with command and control system will be undertaken at public places.