Srinagar: The ruling PDP-BJP alliance on Tuesday underscored need for learning from happenings in 2016 and need to regain the “lost trust” and negate the “misgivings in certain sections of society” in the state.
“We must learn from the happenings in 2016 and focus on issues relating to the interests of the neglected and marginalized groups. Such sensitivity is already discernible in Government’s recent policy initiatives and, hopefully, over time, appropriate policies will put the State on the path of sustained peace and development,” Governor N N Vohra said in his address to joint session of the state legislature at Jammu.
The address of the Governor contains a review of the activities and achievements of the government during the previous year and their policy with regard to important internal problems as well as a brief account of the programme of government business for the session.
“We shall need to regain the lost trust and negate the misgivings in certain sections of our society. Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Independence Day Address reflects his concern and empathy for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. The subsequent appointment by the Union Government of a Special Representative to hold talks with the people belonging to all shades of opinion is recognition of the concern for widening the constituency of peace, to include even those who may have contrary ideological convictions.”
Peace, Vohra underlined, was a great force multiplier. “As engagements with all the stakeholders gain ground, there will be a yearning for peace. And when peace comes it will create its own externalities.”
He said the government remains committed to taking all possible steps for building on the peace dividend and also remains equally determined to ensure that the arc of violence does not spread from the “fringes to the mainstream, to yet again disrupt our lives.” “This will require tough and targeted actions by our Security Forces.”
For the past several months, he said, government forces have been successfully carrying out targeted counter militancy operations. “While they shall engage in such operations whenever it is necessary to do so, it is hoped that these shall involve the least possible collateral damage to the lives and properties of innocent persons,” Vohra said.
Vohra added: “I take this opportunity to salute the brave hearts of Army, Central Armed Police Forces and the J&K Police who have been operating in the most difficult circumstances and laying down their lives in the fight against (militancy) and violence. The nation shall remain ever grateful to the brave jawans and officers of our Security Forces.”
He said that while the valour and sacrifices made by Police personnel cannot ever be viewed in monetary terms, the Government has, to express it unbounded gratitude, taken several measures for further enhancing the welfare of policemen and their families. “The scales of various reliefs admissible to them have been revised; the ex-gratia for the police personnel has been enhanced from Rs.7 lakhs to Rs.20 lakhs; the special welfare relief payable to NoKs of these personnel, in the event of their death on duty, has been enhanced from Rs.12 lakhs to Rs.15 lakhs. Thus, in all, a sum of Rs.43 lakhs is now payable to the bereaved family of a police personnel killed while on duty.”
Side by side, he said, government recognized the serious visual disabilities suffered by youth who received pellet injuries and has decided to rehabilitate them and mitigate their sufferings to the maximum possible extent.
