Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar (NVI): Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said the “unabated” corruption during previous regimes has affected Kashmir drastically, which he said will re-emerge as “heaven” through central government initiatives.
Naqvi as a part of Central government’s outreach campaign visited Srinagar and addressed a gathering of nearly 250 people from Gujjar and Bakarwal community.
He said the main motive of their visit to Kashmir was “to bring positive and effective change in the lives of people.”
“Corruption is a disease which for many years affected Kashmir. Crores of rupees were disbursed for the Jammu and Kashmir which was not reaching to the people. Few people used these funds for their personal benefits. But now the funds are going to directly flow to you (people),” he said.
“All the hopes of people were dashed by their representatives earlier. We now want to reach out to the people and listen to their woes and solve their problems. We today came here with a positive approach and mindset.” Naqvi said.
The union minister said it has happened for the first time that entire ministry had reached out to Kashmiri people to “hear their views.”
“The initiatives will not stop here as we will continue visiting the valley. We will stay in touch with the officers also to know about the peoples grievances.”
Naqvi also said the Centre was focusing to end growing unemployment within Jammu and Kashmir, thereby “paving way for development of the union territory.”
“We are focusing on development and providing enough employment opportunities to the youth. We framed schemes like “Hunar Haq” under youth from all the areas will be covered. These schemes will give them employment along with development of the region,” he said.
“Those who apply for scholarships will get benefitted through central government’s initiatives,” the union minister added.
Naqvi informed the Centre has earmarked Rs 1600 crore under Himayat scheme for Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have already identified at least 1200 educated youth under this programme. People used to travel to faraway places for treatment and now AIIMS is coming up in Samba in Jammu and Lassipora in Kashmir. Five medical colleges are also coming up that will open 500 seats for people of the state,” he said.
The union minister said there was a bigger gap in the development of the union territory, which has been “ignored” previously.
