Centrecommitted to promote trade, tourism, technology in JK

On day four of the ongoing week-long public outreach programme, several union ministers on Tuesday addressed public gatherings in different parts of Jammu region with one of them saying the Centre is committed to promote trade, tourism and technology in the newly created Union Territory.

"The centre is striving hard to promote technology, trade and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir," Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Pratap Chandra Sarangi said at a function in Kathua district.

To provide employment and to uplift the socio-economic status of the people of the area, the minister announced the formation of Pashmina Shawl Clusters which will benefit 260 families.

Referring to his visit to border areas to inspect the construction work of underground bunkers for the protection of the people during frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, he said his government would leave no stone unturned to bring all the amenities at the doorstep of border dwellers.

Addressing a separate gathering at Barnoti and Hirnagar blocks of Kathua, Union Minister Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said there is a need to create "water management committees" which will help to manage, harvest and distribute water in an efficient manner.

"Water is a scarce commodity and to mitigate this problem throughout the country, the Prime Minister has announced Jal Jeevan Mission which will provide tap water to every household in the country by 2024," he said, adding, Jammu and Kashmir will achieve the target of complete piped water by 2021.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer WelfareKailash Choudhary interacted with people in Samba district and said the Centre has launched a bunch of social welfare schemes which are directly benefiting the common masses.

"Thepolicies launched by the centre, post abolition of Article 370, for development of JK will prove a game changer in terms of its development," he said, adding that the new schemes for development of JK including sanctioning of medical colleges, educational institutions and strengthening of PRIs is bound to usher JK into a new era of progress and development.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda concluded a two-day tour of the mountainous Reasi district with a public meeting at Arnas, and said, "We are determined to expedite sluggish pace of projects and accelerate development programmes for the tribal as well as the general masses."