NEW DELHI: After bagging the best State Awards in the sectors of health, horticulture and forest protection successively, the Jammu and Kashmir State grabbed the Best Award for Poverty Reduction conferred to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah by Speaker Lok Sabha, Meera Kumar at the awards giving function of IBN7 Diamond States Awards 2012 here on Saturday evening.
This is yet another feather in the cap of Omar Abdullah led coalition government for its good-governance and commitment for equitable development and poverty alleviation. The last four years have witnessed path breaking initiatives of present dispensation aimed at upgrading basic amenities, reaching out to all areas equitably on development front, empowering common man, strengthening institutions, bringing transparency, making public service delivery fast and administration answerable before the people besides working for restoration of peace in the State.
The efforts of the government are being recognized by independent organizations and media houses regularly. As a part of this recognition, the Jammu and Kashmir State was awarded the prestigious Best State Award for Poverty Reduction by the Jury of IBN7 Diamond States Awards 2012 and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah received the prestigious award at the hands of Speaker Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar.
While receiving the award, Omar Abdullah said that the process of poverty alleviation was kick-started in the State by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah when he announced and implemented Agrarian Reforms and made former owner of the agriculture land free of cost.
Omar Abdullah said that his government is focusing on reduction of poverty by generating wide-ranging economic activities all across the State and converting potential in various sectors into employment opportunities for people in general and youth in particular. He said job creation has been flagged as one of the most important concerns in the State’s Development Policy.
The Chief Minister said that poverty alleviation is being attended on priority by various initiatives put in place in the sectors of rural development, housing and urban development, social welfare, agriculture, horticulture, industry etc. He said job opportunity orbit for people in power, health, education, water supply, roads and bridges and tourism is being expanded through infrastructure development projects and other schemes.
Omar Abdullah thanked the Jury of IBN7 Diamond States Awards 2012 for recognizing the efforts of his government and adjudging Jammu and Kashmir the best State in the category of Poverty Reduction.
Referring to current protests by youth for justice to innocent girl, Omar Abdullah, appreciating their anger, appealed them to utilize it peacefully and without falling prey into the designs of those who want to use them for their vested interests. “Keep your protest peaceful and under control so that attention from the real aspect of seeking justice to the affected person is not diluted or diverted towards some other aspects like those of using water cannons and teargas shellsâ€, he said asking them not to trespass barricades or charge on Parliament House, etc.
“God forbid someone can get severely injured by teargas shell or even some precious human life can be lostâ€, he said maintaining that this would divert the attention from the main objective of seeking justice for the affected girl and vested interests are always in search of such occasions. (KMW News)Â
