Stressing the need for giving a major push to rural economy, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today called for development of livestock and dairy sectors in the state.
Chairing the meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Animal Welfare Board here this morning, she said livestock and dairy sectors have the potential for generation of employment and asked devising means to tap this major resource of the rural economy.
Mehbooba also directed dovetailing various schemes like RKVY and other national dairy development schemes to achieve the desired results.
She suggested identification of villages, particularly in border areas, to be adopted as milk villages where facilities of treatment and welfare of livestock, besides market support, would be made available.
This could be done on the lines of saffron village, apple village, basmati village schemes which would not only institutionalise the otherwise routine village activity but also creates job opportunities for the rural youth, the Chief Minister said.
Mehbooba also asked for linking these villages with cooperative units so that after their "successful operationalisation" these model villages can be replicated across the state.
She suggested that a portion of funds from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of the legislators can be used on the initiative or one village in each constituency can be adopted by respective legislators so that these milk or livestock villages are developed in convergence mode in a short time and without any major financial hassle.
Mehbooba asked the departments concerned to work together to hammer out what needs to be done to address the issues of fodder, livestock health and marketing in these villages.
The Chief Minister also enquired about the status of construction of new abattoirs in Srinagar and Jammu and issued instructions for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness at these places.
She was informed that Rs 28 crore ultra-modern abattoir in Srinagar and two modern abattoirs in Jammu have been approved by the Centre and work on these would start soon.
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Referring to the issue of rehabilitation of children affected by the unrest and the families who had lost their young ones, Mehbooba said, "there are some incidents like this where we don't have any element of suspicion whether it is the incident of Khrew where a lecturer lost his life during unrest or that of a boy who was working on ATM".
The government has set up two separate Special Investigating Teams (SITs) in the two cases and also SITs at the district levels for time-bound probes in the cases of deaths, the Chief Minister said.
She said those killed during the unrest included minors and several lost their vision, partially or completely.
"I have already said that government will be responsible for their education and rehabilitation and we will see from case to case..," she said.
"in 2008, Chamail Singh who went to Pakistan on whatever may be the reasons, died in the prison there. Till now, his family was never compensated. I will compensate his family also," Mehbooba said.
"In 2008 when the Amarnath land row took place, some of the people lost their lives in that agitation here in Jammu. I am going to compensate them, she said.
Reaching out to all parties, the Chief Minister said, "We have to sit together in this House and find out solution to these problems."
She said majority of the children who took to stones have lost their father, whether killed by the bullets of militants or from security forces.
"A large number of children belong to this segment and those who have grown up in this environment of conflict, militancy and uncertainty, we need to nourish them," she said.
The Chief Minister said "Children do not listen to their parents in this age. No parent can allow their children to go out when the environment of unrest, violence and protest rallies are taking place.
"If they come out and take part in such an environment that means they don't obey their parents. We have to create an atmosphere for that."
It is mentioned in the Governor's address that boys and girls of the state have are excelled in a number of fields particularly in sports, whether it is the girls belonging to Ladakh who scaled Everest or the girls from Kashmir, whether it is kick boxing or karate or boys and girls from Jammu like Neena Gupta or Zaira Khan who performed excellent role in movie 'Dangal'.
"Our children are showing excellence in the fields of sports and others but unfortunately they don't get the due opportunity and appreciation," Mehbooba said.
"If a child is showcased with a gun in his hand on facebook, people see him. But these real heroes don't get appreciation. We need to celebrate them," Mehbooba said referring to Zaira and other performers.
"In the next 10-15 years in IAS, Jammu and Kashmir will be number one, that is the level of talent of our children," the Chief Minister said.
