J&K LG sanctions over 10,000 loan cases for budding entrepreneurs

 

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday announced sanction of over 10,000 loan cases for the union territory's budding entrepreneurs under various programmes.

Sinha said his mantra for Jammu and Kashmir revolved around 'four Ps' -- peace, progress, prosperity and people.

The sanctioning of over 10,000 cases under B2V3 (back to village-3) self employment programme, economic package and 'My Town-My Pride' highlights the UT government's commitment to empower the youth which is one of the foremost priorities of J&K government, he said.

Sinha said 15,309 applications were received, out of which 10,828 have been sanctioned and an amount of Rs 100 cr has been disbursed to 6,734 applicants, identified under B2V3.

We had taken up a target of covering at least 2 persons in each Panchayat who were in need of financial assistance for self employment, he added.

He said the administration is committed to cover every single aspirant within the UT, who wishes to set up his/her own business.

What distinguishes the effort this time is the fact that unlike in the past, where borrowers had to make several rounds of the bank to get a simple loan, the banks have been more than forthcoming towards helping the people, he said.

The officers went to the villages under B2V3 and My Town-My Pride, and identified the aspirants, the LG said.

Sinha called upon the J&K Bank to not only extend financial assistance to these entrepreneurs but also provide hand-holding to them so that the youth who opt for self employment can set up sustainable businesses and flourish in their lives.

The Lt Governor also handed over a cheque of Rs 250 crore to J&K Bank as commencement of disbursement of 5 per cent Interest Subvention and coverage of re-structured accounts following 2014 floods and 2016 agitation.

This is only the beginning and as and when requests are received for further disbursement, we will continue to meet these requests in a timely manner, he added.

Providing much needed relief to the business community, the Lt Governor also announced that from January 1 next year, GST shall be reimbursed timely and automatically without delays.

He said the government was strengthening the grass roots democratic set up as a three-tier Panchayati Raj System is being implemented for the first time in J&K.

For empowerment of youth of J&K, Sinha said the administration is coming up with 'YES J&K' -- a youth empowerment programme for youth engagement and employment.

The intended programme will be an institutional mechanism for providing the necessary hand-holding and support to the youth to facilitate and nurture their capabilities, he added.

J&K was, is and shall forever remain integral part: India tells Pak at UN

Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of India, a top Indian diplomat said at the UN Human Rights Council's meeting here on Wednesday, a day after Pakistan sought the international community's intervention on the Kashmir issue.

Speaking at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council which is being held here in Switzerland from February 24 to March 20, Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West), the Ministry of External Affairs, described Pakistan as the epicentre of global terrorism.

He called for decisive action against states who direct, control, fund and shelter terrorists, in an obvious reference to Pakistan, which is accused by its neighbours of providing safe havens to terror groups.

His remarks came a day after Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Tuesday alleged that India continues to violate the human rights of the Kashmiri people and demanded the immediate repeal of all actions by India on August 5 last year.

India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on August 5 and bifurcated it into two Union territories.

Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter". New Delhi has also asked Islamabad to accept the reality and stop its anti-India rhetoric.

Srinagar-Jammu light metro project worth Rs 9,590 cr to start by Sept 2024

TheThe Jammu and Kashmir government has set a September 2024 deadline to start operations on the Rs 9,590 crore metro project for twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar, an official spokesperson said on Friday.

Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu chaired a meeting here on Thursday evening to review the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and the Light Rail Projects for Jammu and Srinagar.

Dheeraj Gupta, principal secretary, Housing and Urban Development department gave a detailed presentation on the Light Rail Projects in Jammu and Srinagar.

During the meeting, it was informed that the project costing Rs 9,590 crore is expected to commence operations by September 2024, spokesman said.

It was also informed that the Light Metro Elevated Corridor in Jammu will connect Bantalab to Bari Brahmana Railway Station (Corridor-1) with a total length of 23 kilometres in phase-I and Exhibition Ground to Udheywala (Corridor-1) and Exhibition Ground to Satwari Chowk (Corridor-2) in Phase-II, he said.

Similarly in Srinagar, Indra Nagar to HMT Junction (Corridor-1) and Hazuri Bagh to Osmanabad (Corridor-2) each having a length of 12.5 km and Indra Nagar to Pampore Bus-stand (Corridor-1) Hazuri Bagh to Airport (Corridor-2) will be taken up in Phase-I and II, respectively, the spokesman said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasized on the linkage of Light Metro stations with tourist destinations and places receiving high footfall.

He directed the officers to prepare a plan for the clearance of Right of Way (RoW), land acquisition and other such matters.

For successful implementation of the mega project, the LG observed that the planning and development of Mass Rapid Transit should be timed with the growth in travel demand.

On current scenario of urban transport, it was informed that the average daily trips in Jammu and Srinagar, catered by public and intermediate public transport, is 12 lakh (68 per cent) and 21 lakh (88 per cent), respectively.

Several important issues including major parameters for selection of MRTS corridors, fare structure of various operational metro rail systems and transportation model also figured in the meeting.

A video presentation was also given on the proposed MRTS for the cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

The official said two MRTCs for both the cities were incorporated in February this year. 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan has been appointed as the principal advisor to these corporations, he said.

"It is proposed to have light rail system, the first in India, which will have low footprint, low noise, greater comfort, aesthetic appeal and will blend with the surrounding landscape," Gupta said.

As per the approval, Srinagar Metropolitan Region will cover the areas in districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian, covering an approximate area of 2494.65 sq km, he said.

Similarly, the Jammu Metropolitan Region will cover the areas in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur districts, covering an area of 2216.58 sq km.

The state government in December 2018 had enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018 and subsequently created two umbrella authorities under it -- Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

These metropolitan region development authorities are expected to serve the purposes of coordination, besides supervising the proper, orderly and rapid development of the areas in these regions and executing plans, projects and schemes for such development while also raising resources for the mega projects. government has set a September 2024 deadline to start operations on the Rs 9,590 crore metro project for twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar, an official spokesperson said on Friday.

Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu chaired a meeting here on Thursday evening to review the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and the Light Rail Projects for Jammu and Srinagar.

Dheeraj Gupta, principal secretary, Housing and Urban Development department gave a detailed presentation on the Light Rail Projects in Jammu and Srinagar.

During the meeting, it was informed that the project costing Rs 9,590 crore is expected to commence operations by September 2024, spokesman said.

It was also informed that the Light Metro Elevated Corridor in Jammu will connect Bantalab to Bari Brahmana Railway Station (Corridor-1) with a total length of 23 kilometres in phase-I and Exhibition Ground to Udheywala (Corridor-1) and Exhibition Ground to Satwari Chowk (Corridor-2) in Phase-II, he said.

Similarly in Srinagar, Indra Nagar to HMT Junction (Corridor-1) and Hazuri Bagh to Osmanabad (Corridor-2) each having a length of 12.5 km and Indra Nagar to Pampore Bus-stand (Corridor-1) Hazuri Bagh to Airport (Corridor-2) will be taken up in Phase-I and II, respectively, the spokesman said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasized on the linkage of Light Metro stations with tourist destinations and places receiving high footfall.

He directed the officers to prepare a plan for the clearance of Right of Way (RoW), land acquisition and other such matters.

For successful implementation of the mega project, the LG observed that the planning and development of Mass Rapid Transit should be timed with the growth in travel demand.

On current scenario of urban transport, it was informed that the average daily trips in Jammu and Srinagar, catered by public and intermediate public transport, is 12 lakh (68 per cent) and 21 lakh (88 per cent), respectively.

Several important issues including major parameters for selection of MRTS corridors, fare structure of various operational metro rail systems and transportation model also figured in the meeting.

A video presentation was also given on the proposed MRTS for the cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

The official said two MRTCs for both the cities were incorporated in February this year. 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan has been appointed as the principal advisor to these corporations, he said.

"It is proposed to have light rail system, the first in India, which will have low footprint, low noise, greater comfort, aesthetic appeal and will blend with the surrounding landscape," Gupta said.

As per the approval, Srinagar Metropolitan Region will cover the areas in districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian, covering an approximate area of 2494.65 sq km, he said.

Similarly, the Jammu Metropolitan Region will cover the areas in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur districts, covering an area of 2216.58 sq km.

The state government in December 2018 had enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018 and subsequently created two umbrella authorities under it -- Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

These metropolitan region development authorities are expected to serve the purposes of coordination, besides supervising the proper, orderly and rapid development of the areas in these regions and executing plans, projects and schemes for such development while also raising resources for the mega projects.

Mamata to bring back Bengal workers from J&K days after terrorists kill 5

More than 100 migrant workers from Jammu and Kashmir will be moved after a spate of killings by suspected separatist militants underlined the threat to outsiders in the restive region.

Senior officials working for the chief minister of the eastern state of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, said on Saturday she decided to move the workers out of Kashmir to prevent them from becoming a potential target for militant groups who the government says have intensified attacks on civilians belonging to states except Kashmir.

The migrant workers will be identified and moved by train to eastern states, the officials said.

Last week, suspected militants barged into a house in southern Kashmir, marched out six men who had come to work in the orchards and paddy fields from West Bengal, lined them up and shot them, police said.

Five died, a sixth, who the gunmen had left for dead, survived, to tell the tale that has fanned fears of further attacks on outsiders, officials say.

"We have orders from the state leader to escort all the Bengali labourers out of Kashmir after five Muslim labourers from West Bengal were killed," said a senior police official in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal.

Migrant workers are a soft target for militants, and during the past few weeks 11 have been killed, including the victims of this latest atrocity, the government said.

Much of Kashmir's economy is dependent on outside labourers who work in construction, hotels and apple orchards.

None of the militant groups in Kashmir claimed responsibility for the attack on migrant workers.

The separatist insurgency in Kashmir began three decades ago, but the latest flare up in violence followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision in August to take away the autonomy previously offered to India's only Muslim majority state.

India is hoping that by opening up property rights in Kashmir to people from outside the region it can reignite economic growth, create jobs and turn the focus away from a militant uprising in which more than 40,000 people have died.

But for the government to have any chance of succeeding, it will have to remove the growing sense of insecurity among other Indians who have risked coming to Kashmir to make a living.

Govt to buy apples directly from J&K farmers, transfer money through DBT

Apples cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir will be procured directly from farmers by the government-run NAFED and the entire process will be completed by December 15, officials said on Tuesday.

The announcement came in the wake of terrorists threatening some apple growers not to sell their produce in the market following abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

"The government of India has announced procurement of apples produced in Jammu and Kashmir during the current season 2019. The NAFED will complete the entire process of procurement through designated state government agencies by December 15," a government official said.

The objective of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) is to promote co-operative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit farmers.

The procurement will be made directly from genuine apple growers and the state administration will ensure direct payment in bank accounts of apple growers through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

All categories of apples i.e. A, B and C will be procured from all the apple producing districts in Jammu and Kashmir as well as designated mandis (wholesale markets) in Sopore, Shopian and Srinagar, the official said.

Fair prices for various categories will be fixed by the price committee that includes a member from the National Horticulture Board.

Quality Committee will ensure proper grading of varieties of apples.

The implementation and coordination committee at the state level will be chaired by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary while the Union Ministries of Agriculture, and Home Affairs and other central agencies will oversee smooth implementation of the scheme, another official said.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had on Saturday said 750 trucks carrying apples leave the valley everyday for trade in other parts of the country.

Following diktats of the Pakistan-based handlers to disrupt the trading of fruits, two militants had last Friday attacked family members of a prominent fruit merchant in Sopore, injuring his 25-year-old son and two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter.

Normal life has been disrupted in Jammu and Kashmir following imposition of restrictions since August 5 when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two UTs.

Though restrictions were lifted in many areas, business establishments continue to remain shut and there has been thin attendance in schools and traffic on the roads in the Kashmir Valley.

Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir to be held sooner than expected?

Are elections to Jammu and Kashmir going to be held sooner than expected? The national chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s membership drive, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has suddenly become extremely active. On July 25 and 26, Chouhan will be in Jammu and Srinagar to review the BJP’s membership increase and also the strategy for elections. All local leaders will be present for a meeting with him. The BJP’s leadership has a target of enrolling 17 lakh members. As part of the current membership drive that will be on till 11 August, the party will have completed the enrollment of around 6 lakh members. Presumably elections will be announced only when the BJP is confident it has enough members to sway the outcome in its favour.

Congress struggles, while BJP gears up

With assembly elections due in Haryana in October, there is a stark difference between the way the Congress and the BJP are readying themselves for the contest. The BJP won all 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state. The Congress organisation is in shambles. When party chief Ashok Tanwar was asked to resign from his position after the party’s disastrous result, his riposte was that he would not quit from the position as the party’s loss was a collective responsibility. Earlier this year, when party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala lost the Jind by-election, he charged some elements from within his party with sabotaging the poll. In January, infighting was public after the Tanwar faction insisted on contesting the civic body polls while the Hooda faction had resisted the suggestion. The BJP meanwhile is readying itself to draft its manifesto after talking to people on the ground.