Roshni reaches Kashmir!
1077 people get 2846 kanals of state land

Budgam, May 13: Asserting that in matters of development his government didn’t differentiate between people on the basis of region, religion or political affiliation, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today claimed credit for having initiated a new political culture based on social justice and equal economic opportunities to all sections of population.
Addressing a public meeting here today wherein he distributed ownership rights of 2846 kanals of state land with a market value of Rs 114.19 crores to 1077 beneficiaries under the Roshni Scheme, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that past two-and-half years had been a period of development and justice when facilities were equitably extended to areas and regions above political or other considerations. He said the only consideration was that justice should be meted out to all.  Recalled that when he took over as the Chief Minister he had promised evenhanded treatment to all people irrespective of political leanings and regional or religious affiliations, Azad said he had been trying to follow the principle of justice and parity with everyone.
He said while formulating the policy for the state’s development he did not even once think as to whom the civic amenities and development projects taken up across the state on a major scale were going to benefit. He said parity was only possible when all sections of people received justice at the hands of the ruler.  The Chief Minister said his government gave equal attention to address the problems of people whether living in mountainous and hilly areas, towns and cities or Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.  This, he said, was in contrast to the past times when politics was the deciding factor in distributing development projects.
He said schools, health centres, irrigation facilities and roads were taken up only in the areas where ruling party legislators, political leaders or ministers belonged.  “Our government has changed this practice and laid the foundation of a new political culture,” the Chief Minister said, adding that massive development activities were going on throughout the state and there was no consideration whether the area was stronghold of the opposition party or the ruling party.
He said projects that had been left half-way or were going on with a snail’s pace for decades were completed by his government. He said development schemes were now completed within the shortest possible period.
He said he did not believe in misleading people with promises that were not possible to realize. He said development was his main plank and people were appreciating it.  Referring to the Roshni Scheme, the Chief Minister said that his government took a revolutionary initiative of conferring ownership rights of about 22 lakh kanals of state land on the farmers free of cost.  He said by this measure the farmers would be the owners of the land that till now belonged to the state. This, he said, would facilitate them in obtaining the permanent resident certificate and bank loan.
He said the farmers now being the owners of the land would concentrate more on increasing agriculture production which, he said, was imperative for meeting the challenge of food shortage world over.
He complimented Revenue officials for successful implementation of the Roshni Scheme.
The Minister for Transport, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen described today’s occasion as historic for Budgam as it was the first district in the valley where the Roshni Scheme was launched.  He said the coalition rule in the state would be remembered as an era of consolidation.  Earlier, the District Development Commissioner, Farooq Renzu gave the details of the state land on which ownership rights were conferred on farmers in the district today.  He also spoke about development activities currently going on in the district.  He said the Bemina Bridge, pending completion for two decades, was now ready. He said 20,000 job cards were issued to the beneficiaries under NREGA in the district.