Srinagar- In an effort to drive forward the developmental agenda in Jammu and Kashmir, the newly appointed central ministers in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi 3.0 government have embarked on comprehensive first-hand appraisals of Union territory needs pertaining to their respective departments.
This initiative aims to ensure that planning and execution of government schemes are aligned with the ground realities of the region.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, and Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, among other top ministers, have promptly engaged in evaluating the development needs in Jammu and Kashmir specific to their ministries.
Sources said that this initiative was undertaken immediately after these ministers assumed their new roles, emphasizing the government’s commitment to prioritizing Jammu and Kashmir.
“There are numerous developmental projects, including those in road infrastructure, health, and tourism, sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir by the union government. The UT government is working diligently to advance these projects, with the central government emphasizing that the development agenda should progress rapidly so that the people benefit from these schemes and projects,” the sources maintained.
Sources said that the central ministries have been directed by the Prime Minister to coordinate with the UT government and make every effort for the betterment of the people and the Union Territory.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently shown a deep connection with Jammu and Kashmir and its people. With the new government taking command, PM Modi has reiterated the importance of regular reviews by central ministers to advance the development agenda and elevate the implementation of government schemes in the Union Territory,” official sources in the PMO said.
In the previous Modi-led government, central ministers were actively involved in ground-level assessments and reviews in Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, in 2020 and 2021, extensive outreach programs were conducted where ministers directly interacted with the local population.
In 2020, 36 central ministers visited Jammu and Kashmir, covering several remote areas and submitting their findings to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The issues raised by the residents were addressed collaboratively by the central and Union territory government.
In 2021, nearly 70 ministers from Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers participated in a 9-week long Public Outreach Programme-II in Jammu and Kashmir. During this period, they engaged directly with the people, local administration, and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), identifying and addressing issues within their domains while forwarding comprehensive reports of unresolved matters to the MHA and PMO.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the government’s formation, addressed the 10th International Day of Yoga (IYD) event in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. The Prime Minister led the celebrations and participated in a yoga session, further underlining his commitment to the region.
In a parallel effort, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari chaired a high-level meeting at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar to review the progress of road and highway projects in J&K. During the meeting, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and Minister Gadkari for their unwavering support for major infrastructure projects in the Union Territory.
“We are dedicated to building a strong and glorious future for Jammu and Kashmir,” Sinha had said. “The massive infrastructure push has not only created new employment opportunities but also significantly boosted the UT’s economy.”(KNS)
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