PM reviews Kashmir’s developmental projects

SRINAGAR - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday reviewed the developmental activities in Jammu and Kashmir and said the central government would do everything needed to support the state in its development process.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a comprehensive power point presentation for the prime minister, covering all key sectors at a high-level meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) in summer capital Srinagar.

Manmohan Singh announced restoration of cuts amounting to about Rs.400 crore in the state plan outlay for 2009-10. He also said that the central government would dispense with the cut on Prime Minister’s Rozgaar Yojana allocations of previous year.

He said three cultural centres for the Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari communities, computer labs in select schools for these groups and self-help groups for women belonging to Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.

An additional allocation would also be made from the tribal welfare ministry for community-based volunteers’ scheme for delivery of health and education to nomadic groups, he said.

The prime minister assured the chief minuister that he would through dialogue look for a suitable mechanism to financially support the state government for implementing the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations so that the state employees could be paid their arrears.

However, Manmohan Singh expressed disappointment that a section of state government employees responded to strike calls by separatist groups and failed to discharge their duties.

The meeting was also attended by union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister T.K.A. Nair, National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon and Harish Khare, the media advisor to the prime minister, were also present at the meeting.

State Chief Secretary S.S. Kapur led the high-level state officers’ team at the meeting comprising financial commissioners, director general of police, principal secretaries and commissioners/secretaries of various departments.