Urgent need to rehabilitate surrendered militants: Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday underlined that there was an urgent need for rehabilitating surrendered militants in Jammu and Kashmir.  “I took the issue with Home Minister P Chidambaram when he was visiting here that there is an urgent need to work out a policy for rehabilitating them (surrendered militants,” Omar told reporters on sidelines of a function — closing ceremony of CRPF Cup Football Tournament at Bakshi Stadium here.“In keeping with that we are now trying to establish a baseline on how educated they are, what sort of skills they have, what sort of avenues they can be employed in,” he said.“Once that information is available, we will work out a package with government of India,” he added, reported.   Earlier  in the day,  the Chief Minister said that guaranteed public service delivery to the people in the state is his Government’s cherished goal and administration has been sensitized at all levels in this regard. “Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act has been legislated in the last Assembly session to make public servants liable for the service delivery and ensure prompt and befitting response to citizens’ calls,” he said adding that Panchayat Raj in the State would help in a big way to implement the Act purposefully and successfully for general public benefit. Addressing sarpanches and panches of Langate and Lolab Assembly Constituencies at two separate functions, the Chief Minister said that prompt service delivery by the Government functionaries is essential ingredient in good-governance. He reminded the newly elected Panchayat members of their significant role in transforming socio-economic conditions in the State and asked them to help in successful implementation of development schemes actively. He said that the dream of prosperous Jammu and Kashmir could be realized by a well defined and powerful Panchayat system in the State and Government is moving ahead with a pledge in this direction. Omar told sarpanches and panches to be prepared for shouldering the responsibility of serving the people not only in rural development sector but in the sectors of education, health, social welfare, consumer affairs, power development, water supply, etc. “The transfer of powers and authority from the Civil Secretariat to the grass roots public representatives is the prime objective of Panchayat Raj. “And my Government is committed for powerful and effective Panchayats in the State.“Our political opponents tried to mislead the people by spreading different rumors about the holding of elections, participation of candidates and on voter turnover. When they were proven wrong by the successful completion of elections in a free and fair manner in the State, they started questioning the transfer of powers to Panchayats. We will prove them wrong on this count too,” he said. The Chief Minister told sarpanches and panches to render their service to the people sincerely, honestly and with highest degree of responsibility. “The success of Panchayat Raj in the State depends on you. Your response to public demands and redressal of their grievances will determine the success of the system”, he told them advising to make honesty benchmark of functioning.Omar Abdullah said that he has directed the Rural Development Department to provide computerized photo identity cards to all sarpanches and panches so that they can freely visit various offices in connection with the public service delivery and other programmes aimed at development of their areas.The Chief Minister said that development of far-flung and backward areas like Langate and Lolab is a priority concern of his Government. “Special attention is being paid to upgrade basic amenities in these areas and boost up economic activities”, he said and asked the newly elected sarpanches and panches to play their positive role in the successful implementation of development programmes.