Jehlum Post News/Jammu/ March 25, 2015/ Minister for Finance, Labour and Employment & Culture, Dr. Haseeb Drabu Wednesday said that the government is for the welfare of the people and in this regard several welfare measures have been announced, besides achieving self-reliance and fiscal autonomy. Winding up the discussion on the demand of grants for the departments under his charge, the Finance Minister said the old classification of the plan and non-plan has been discarded which is a major change and will have far reaching implications on allocation, efficiency and monitoring of public expenditure.Dr. Drabu said that from 1st April, a 3-phased rehabilitation plan will be launched starting with the first step of restoration of the livelihood of the flood sufferers, which would be followed by helping them in re-establishment of their business and in the final phase the actual reconstruction of their houses and assets. It is the endeavour of the Government to ensure that the people, who were affected by the floods, should start their normal business and day-to-day activities as soon as possible, he said.

The Finance Minister said that respecting the sensitivity of the House towards widows, disabled and the destitute, two pension schemes under State and Central sector have been merged for the benefit of widows and they would be getting a hiked pension of 1000 per month. Besides, 1000 per month would also be provided for the disabled persons having disability of more than 60 percent.Reiterating Government’s commitment for bringing in more welfare measures for the girl child, the Minister said that grown up girls would get financial assistance at till 17 or 21 years depending upon their choice. In addition to this the Government would be contributing 1000 per month on behalf of every new born child for the next 14 years and on reaching 21 years, she would receive 6.5 lakhs. The Finance Minister said that Government will continue its employee’s friendly schemes in future also. He said that all the Class-IV employees would be getting recently announced 17% DA arrears in cash.
Referring to the creation of employment avenues in the State, the Minister said that mechanism would be formulated for creating the necessary and requisite job opportunities for the people thereby helping in ensuring the employability of the job-less. Terming the concept of model business villages as a step towards ensuring the proper development of the business and livelihood activities in those areas where they are set up, the Minister said that local employment opportunities will be generated by this step thereby resulting in elevating the economic profile of people living in the areas as well as their catchment areas. “We would also ensure that the proper and conducive atmosphere is created for entrepreneurship and in this regard initiatives have been taken for ensuring more people set up their own entrepreneurial units”, he said and added that the craft trade which provides employment to more than 7 lakh people would also be given the necessary impetus, so that more and more people get employability through the handicraft sector.

“The branding of different handicrafts would be done which would help in promoting and reviving the sector, which forms one of the most important aspects of our tradition and providing employability to lakhs of people”, he added. Dr. Drabu said that necessary mechanism would also be put in place to provide soft loans to the persons who have been provided the requisite trainings in different fields by the Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI). He said that by doing so the local entrepreneurship would get the requisite fillip and youth would be contributing in the economy and also creation of employment avenues for the unemployed ones.  Earlier, the Minister moved a Demand for Grant of a sum of 3170739.85 lakhs to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2015 for the departments under his charge. 11 Members took part in discussion on demand of grants including Mr. Y. Tarigami, Ch Qamer Hussain, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora, Mr. Sat Paul Sharma, Mr. Bashir Ahmed Dar, Mr. G. M. Saroori, Mr. Mubarak Gul, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Mr. Javed Rana and Mr. Jagjeevan Lal.Later, the members, who moved the Cut Motions on the Grants, withdrew after the satisfactory reply from the Minister.  The House passed the Grants by a voice vote.

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