”Distances, whether of hearts, languages, customs or of resources, their elimination is our major priority today”
BUNTY MAHAJAN
PALLI, APRIL 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured the youth of Kashmir that they will not suffer the way their parents and their grandparents had in the past.
“Ghati ke noujawano, app ke mata-pita ko, aap ke dada-dadi ko, aap ke nana-nani ko, jin museebato se zindgee jeene padi, merey naujawano app ko kabhi bi aisi musibto se zindgo jeeni nahi padegi. Yeh mein kar ke dikhaunga. Yeh mein aap ko vishwas dilaney aya hoon’’ (The youth of Valley, you will never face those sufferings in life with which your parents and grandparents have spent their lives in the past. I will accomplish this and I have come to assure you about it), PM said addressing 30 lakh elected rural local body members across India on the occasion of Panchayat Divas celebrations at village Palli in Samba district, after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 20,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir. Mein aap ko yeh kar ke dikhaunga. Mein aap ko yehi Vishwas dilaney aya hoon” (I accomplish it and I have come here to give you this assurance), he added.
On the occasion, he laid foundation stones and inaugurated various development projects worth Rs 20,000 crores, showcasing fast transforming Jammu and Kashmir. These included inauguration of a Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel reducing the travel time between Jammu and Srinagr by two hours, 500 KV solar power plant at Palli, besides laying foundation stone of Rattle and Kwar hydel projects on river Chenab, besides Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway among others.
Before coming to the dias, he had interaction with a delegation from UAE who had come to the UT to attend the ground breaking ceremony of private investment proposals worth Rs 38,082 crore for industrial and infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir.Those included heads of DP World, Emaar Properties, Lulu Group, Royal Strategic Partners and WizzFinancial.
The Prime Minister said that a new story of development is being written and many private investors are interested in Jammu and Kashmir. For 7 decades of independence, private investment of only Rs 17 thousand crore could be made in Jammu and Kashmir. But now it is reaching around Rs 38,000 crore. Tourism also is thriving once again, the Prime Minister noted.
Showcasing fast pace of infrastructure development, Modi said that there was a time when a file used to take two-three weeks to reach Jammu Kashmir. “Today I feel happy to see that a 500 KV solar power project at Palli panchayat has been completed in just three weeks,” he said, adding that all the houses in the village are getting green power.
With the completion of Rattle and Kwar hydel power projects in next two years, the power in Jammu Kashmir will not be only sufficient, but it will become a source of income generation as well, he added.
Referring to the changes following abrogation of Article 370 has empowered people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said there are more than 30,000 panchayati representatives who are running governance related affairs. “For the first time, peaceful three-tier Panchayati elections were held,” he said, today people are realising their dreams.
He also called for reducing the distances between people. “When I talk of one India and best India that also means focusing on connectivity, and eliminating distances. “Distances, whether of hearts, languages, customs or of resources, their elimination is our very big priority today”, he added.
Lt Governor Jammu and Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha, Union Ministers Shri Giriraj Singh, Dr Jitendra Singh and Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil were among those present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that today is a landmark day in the development journey of Jammu and Kashmir. He thanked the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their enthusiasm. The Prime Minister said, due to his long association with the state, he understands the issues involved and expressed happiness about the focus on connectivity in the projects inaugurated and for which foundation stone was laid today.
To give a new impetus to the development of Jammu and Kashmir, work is going on at a fast pace.These efforts will provide employment to a large number of youths of Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.Today many families have also got property cards of their houses in villages.These ownership cards will inspire new possibilities in the villages.100 Jan AushadhiKendras will become a medium to provide affordable medicines and surgical items to the poor and middle class families of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that all schemes of the centre government are being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and people are being benefitted from them. People in the villages are the biggest beneficiaries of schemes for LPG, toilets, electricity, land rights and water connections.
Shri Modi referred to India’s leadership on international environmental and climate change platforms and expressed pride in the strides that Palli Panchayat is making towards becoming first carbon neutral panchayat. “Palli Panchayat is moving towards becoming the first Carbon Neutral Panchayat in the country. Today, I have also got an opportunity to interact with the people’s representatives of the villages of the country, in the village of Palli. Many congratulations to Jammu and Kashmir for this big achievement and development works”, he said.
The Prime Minister said that “celebration of National Panchayati Raj Dayin Jammu and Kashmir marks a big change.” Shri Modi expressed deep satisfaction and pride that democracy has made way to grass roots in Jammu and Kashmir. “Be it democracy or resolve for development, today Jammu and Kashmir is presenting a new example.In the last 2-3 years, new dimensions of development have been created in Jammu and Kashmir”, the Prime Minister stressed.For the first time, elections to the three-tier Panchayati Raj system- Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and DDC have been held in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the process of inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir in the development journey of the nation, the Prime Minister informed that more than 175 central laws have become applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. The biggest beneficiaries of this have been the women, poor and deprived section of the area. He also talked about removal of anomalies in the reservation clauses. “Valmiki Samajhas been freed from the fetters that were put in their feet for decades.Today sons and daughters of every community are able to fulfil their dreams.Those who did not get the benefit of reservation in Jammu and Kashmir for years, are also getting the benefit of reservation now”, he said.