Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Monday asked the Centre to continue to treat his State as a special category state under Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSSs).
“With NITI Ayog revising funding norms under Central Schemes, I will continue to insist upon 90:10 dispensation with Central Government for overcoming huge locational disadvantage, coupled with difficult security scenario that the State has countenanced over the past 25 years,” Sayeed said at a function in central Kashmir’s Budgam District.
The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating a three-day Public Information Campaign (PIC), organised by PIB, on generating awareness about Centrally-Sponsored Schemes.
Sayeed directed the administrative machinery to ensure that benefits of all social sector schemes percolate down to the people at the grassroots level.
Calling upon Central Government to forge a better match between schemes and needs of the states, the Chief Minister said he has presented his viewpoint of continuing funding to J and K and North East states as per present norms to the Sub Group of 10 Chief Ministers formed in NITI Ayog for rationalisation of Centrally-Sponsored Schemes.
“We cannot ignore the role of Central Schemes like PMGSY and NRHM in ushering in an era of rapid development of the State, in particular its remote and far-flung areas,” he said.
In an apparent reference to opposition criticism of his four month-old government, Sayeed said those who were at the helm of affairs for years together, are expecting results from the government which has been in power for only 100 days.
“The previous regime has left us scratching bottoms of empty coffers. In 2002, when we took over reins from a similar government which had been voted out of power, we succeeded in bringing the State out of darkness and restoring people’s confidence by providing a corruption-free administration,” he said.
The new government will again come up to the expectations of the people by achieving its goal of good governance, he said.
Promising to make Jammu and Kashmir hub of educational excellence, the Chief Minister linked quality of education with generation of ample opportunities of employment in the ‘Age of Knowledge’.
“Intelligence is in our genes. We will channelise it to bring J and K on top,” he said.
While appreciating the efforts of the Education Department in revitalising the sector, he urged upon government schools to improve the standard of education so that people across board prefer to admit their wards in such institutions.
Placing high priority on development of health sector, Sayeed assured that impediments in implementation of schemes related to the sector will be removed.
“We need to upgrade basic health infrastructure at district and sub-district hospitals and provide specialist doctors so that people do not have to move from pillar to post for advanced medical treatment,” he stated.
The Chief Minister said the State Government has submitted a comprehensive proposal for Flood Protection and Management to the Central Government under which an additional flood channel has been conceived.
Meanwhile, he said, the dredging of rivers and spill over channels is being undertaken to increase their carrying capacity. (PTI)