Mandate a historic opportunity, no digging of past, assures

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said he has been given a historic opportunity by the people to "connect and further gel" the three distinct regions of the state-- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh-- and assured there will be "no digging of the past".
The government has come with a positive agenda to change the system of governance and ensure justice for all.
"The verdict of the people in the Assembly polls is a great opportunity to connect and further gel the three distinct regions of the state.
"There will be no digging of the past and the initiatives taken between 2002 and 2005 will move forward to firmly put the state on the development map of the country," Mufti said while chairing his maiden meeting of Administrative Secretaries after assuming office.

Mufti said that his government will soon make guidelines to make heads of the departments accountable and responsible so that they perform to the best of their ability.
"You are my tools of governance. JK has to deliver on development front so that people of the state, who have suffered for long, feel the change coming on the ground," he said.

While referring to his previous tenure as chief minister, Mufti said that after becoming Chief Minister, he took several initiatives like Cross-LoC trade that are seen as historical steps.
He praised the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the NDA government of that time, saying it took several confidence-building measures to help bring in peace and stability in the state.

Stressing that governance has to be made people-friendly at the grassroot level, the Chief Minister said he would ensure that powers are delegated to the officers for effective administrative disposal.
"JK has been in pain for a pretty long time. When a part of the country is in pain, it needs attention," he added.
The Chief Minister also called for making pivotal Government institutions like the Accountability Commission and the Public Service Commission functional so that the people are facilitated and trust deficit in government institutions is removed.
"Time-bound delivery of services to the people of the state must be prioritised," he said.

While identifying key sectors of public delivery like Health, Education, Agriculture, CAPD, Power and PHE, the Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to prepare a detailed presentation on functioning of these departments for review of the Cabinet.