The next year’s plan shall focus on reduction of gender gap in education and literacy. State share of Rs 506 crore has been proposed under elementary education with a view to lifting Rs 819 crore Central share under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), mid-day meals, Saakshar Bharat Mission etc. Under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, construction of 19 Model Schools and 19 Girls Hostels will be taken up during the next fiscal.
Another new scheme in the name of Saakshar Bharat Mission is being launched. One of its components shall replace the previous programme known as Total Literacy Campaign. All the 20 districts which had literacy percentage of below 50% as per census of 2001 shall be covered under this new programme during the next financial year. An amount of Rs 42 crore is proposed to be spent on this programme during the next fiscal inclusive of State share of Rs 10.50 crore. A fresh initiative on adult education has also been launched in these 20 districts from the current financial year under Saakshar Bharat Mission.
On the physical side, work on construction of 3,769 primary school buildings, 937 additional class rooms, 503 middle schools, 78 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, 95 Cluster Resource Centres and 29 Block Resource Centres is to be completed soon. Under the Mid-Day Meals programme, about eleven lakh children are proposed to be covered during the next year.
Higher/Technical Education
Gross Enrolment Ratio target of 15% has been adopted at the national level to be achieved by 2015. For this purpose, 11 Model Degree Colleges are being established in 11 districts under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 50:50 basis. Additionally, 11 new Degree Colleges are being taken up under the State sector. The number of colleges which have been already made functional under PMRP and under State sector plan is 18. The next year’s target for construction of colleges is 32 including 10 colleges under PMRP.
We are aiming at creation of 50 lakh skilled persons by the year 2022 under the National Skill Development Mission, through Engineering Colleges, Polytechnic Institutes, ITIs, departmental training centres and RSETIs. Skill upgradation requirements are also planned to be simultaneously attended to. The present intake capacity of the technical institutes is accordingly being enhanced in a rapid and planned manner.
Eighteen new Polytechnic Institutes are being established. Out of them 10 Polytechnic Institutes shall be developed as Centres of Excellence under the ‘Integrated Skill Development Mission’. Besides these Polytechnics, 27 ITIs are undergoing the process of upgradation in PPP mode.
An investment of Rs 316 crore is proposed in this sector during the year 2011-12.
Roads and Bridges
About 2,000 kilometres length of roads is proposed to be black-topped or macadamized during the next financial year. Under phase VIII of PMGSY, 160 new schemes are expected to be taken up during the next year. The number of bridges under execution is 442. Out of them, 103 bridges are being completed in the current year and 100 additional bridges are expected to be completed during the next financial year. An investment of Rs 857 crore is being proposed for R&B Sector under the State Plan. Additionally, Rs 900 crore are expected to flow in the R&B Sector under the Central Schemes during the next financial year.
Irrigation & Flood Control
Rafiabad High Lift scheme, Dadi Canal and New Pratap Canal are being completed. Modernization of Ranbir Canal at the revised cost of Rs 176 crore has been cleared for implementation. WAPCOS has been engaged to prepare a DPR for drawing water from river Ravi to provide irrigation to one lakh acres of kandi land in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts. Four new major/medium irrigation projects namely Lar canal, Zainageer canal phase-II, Grimtoo canal and restoration and modernization of main Ravi canal have been sent to Government of India for clearance under AIBP at a cost of nearly Rs 283 crore.
A comprehensive flood management programme has been prepared for River Jhelum. Phase-I of the project has been approved by the government of India at a cost of Rs 97 crore. Construction of gated barrage across river Tawi for creation of pondage near Beli Charana has been approved at a cost of Rs 70 crore.
This House has passed J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010. The Department has initiated follow up action for implementation of various provisions of this Act. Bills on account of user charges worth around Rs 60 crore have already been issued to the hydel power producers in the State.
Water Supply Schemes
Apart from 823 on going water supply schemes, 320 new water supply schemes have been takenup under Mega Flagship National Rural Drinking Water Programme. Under this programme, 60 water testing Laboratories are expected to be completed by the next financial year. Reconstruction of Kargil and Leh water supply schemes has been taken up at a cost of about Rs 7 crore each under the Prime Minister’s Natural Calamity Relief Fund.
About 1500 additional habitations are targeted to be covered by potable drinking water supply during the next financial year. A Master Plan for Jammu has been prepared costing Rs 1,037 crore. The next year’s expected expenditure under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme is Rs 170 crore under the State plan and Rs 540 crore in the Central sector.
Health
The Super Speciality Hospital at Jammu shall be completed early and made functional. The buildings of two new district hospitals, 2 CHC buildings, OPD Block at Bone and Joint Hospital, Srinagar, Girls Hostel of Dental College, Srinagar: OPD Block of Medical College Jammu and Advance Yoga Centre are expected to be completed during the next financial year.
Bio-medical waste treatment facility is proposed to be provided in six district hospitals as also in the Medical Colleges at Jammu and Srinagar.
Work on construction of three GNM and four ANM schools shall also be taken up.
A Drug Policy is being formulated to promote medicines accessibility – ensuring safety, quality and efficacy of medicines, good prescribing practices and rational use of drugs in the public and private sector.
An investment of Rs 857 crore under the State Plan and Rs 900 crore under Central Sector is expected in the Health Sector during the next year.
Social Welfare
An amount of Rs 90 crore is proposed for the next financial year under Integrated Social Security Scheme, National Social Assistance Programme and Contributory Social Security Scheme. An amount of Rs 60 crore is proposed as pre- Matric and post-Matric scholarships to the students of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and Pahari speaking people.
Urban Development
Projects worth Rs 1,227 crore have been sanctioned for the cities of Jammu and Srinagar and other smaller towns of the State under JNNURM.
To ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Urban Local Bodies, the J&K Public Disclosure Act 2010 and the J&K Municipal Award Act 2010 have been already enacted. Accrual based double account system is proposed to be introduced in the Urban Local Bodies from the year 2011-12. Action has been initiated for bench marking of services like sanitation, sewerage, drainage, soil waste collection and disposal.
Next year’s allocation is proposed at Rs 326 crore. The State share for JNNURM is proposed at Rs 150 crore.
Apart from ongoing Rs 299 crore project on conservation of Dal-Nageen Lakes, Rs 356 crore are proposed to be utilized under PMRP for rehabilitation and resettlement of Dal dwellers.
The Government has approved acquisition of 200 kanals of land near Raya Morh for developing new Warehouse and Transport Nagar for Jammu. Consultants have been engaged to prepare plans for development of multi-tier parking lots at General Bus Stand, Panjtirthi and Doctor’s Lane.
SMC is in the process of hiring a consultant for preparation of a DPR for Solid Waste Management in Srinagar City. Feasibility of creating Warehousing facilities at Bagh-e-Nand Singh near Bemina, Athwajan and Nowgam are under examination.
Agriculture
An agricultural policy is being finalized. Massive efforts are being made to improve the seed replacement rate through research based structured programme. The government proposes to install automatic weather stations in all the 22 districts in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization. More areas are being brought under fruit cultivation with additional focus on important high value crops. Saffron cultivation is expected to be rejuvenated under the ambitious project approved at the cost of Rs 372 crore.
The Agriculture Department has proposed to cover 3,000 acres under wheat cultivation in Kashmir Valley under the paddy wheat rotational crop pattern. In yet another bold initiative the department has started departmental procurement of improved wheat seed from the ensuing Rabi season, mainly in Jammu region, in order to improve the seed replacement rate which is so essential for improving productivity and production through use of high yielding varieties.
Walk-in Cold Rooms are being established at 13 places for use of floriculture business, in addition to one such Centre at Srinagar airport. The Department proposes to place 17 Refrigerated Vans at the disposal of the floriculturists during the next year. A flower mandi is being established at Srinagar. One tissue culture laboratory is proposed to be established for scientific development of floriculture.
