'J-K govt committed to providing services to people at their

The ruling National Conference-Congress government in Jammu and Kashmir is committed to providing services at peoples' doorsteps, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today said even as he claimed that under the present dispensation, allocation for "bad pockets" in the state had become a permanent feature of the annual budget.
"(J-K) government is committed to providing all possible facilities to the people at their doorsteps.
"For the first time in the history of J-K, allocation of special grants for bad pockets of all the three regions has been made a permanent feature of the budget estimates," Rather said.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a government Sub- Treasury at Ramkot in the Billawar belt of Kathua district.

With the latest addition, the number of treasuries in the state has gone up to 130.
Rather said that the opening of government treasuries, especially in remote and inaccessible areas, was a step in the direction of bringing services closer to the people.

The ruling coalition has given much focus to remote and backward areas of J-K with a view to providing them with equal opportunities for development and progress, he said.
The sub-treasury at Ramkote -- the 58th in Jammu division and the sixth treasury in Kathua district -- will cater to 20 Drawing and Disbursing Officers in the area.

"For the last four years, special budgetary provisions are being made to meet the developmental needs of the bad pockets and to bring such areas on a par with cities and towns," he added.