Govt will deliver despite limited powers: Ch Ramzan

Srinagar, Oct 15: As Omar Abdullah‑led government completes two years in office tomorrow, National Conference leaders on Thursday said the administration has managed to deliver despite limited powers, bureaucratic hurdles and constraints of the Union Territory model.
Member of Parliament Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan said the government undertook significant work across education, healthcare, agriculture, horticulture, tourism and other sectors during the past two years.
Ramzan said the NC government fulfilled key electoral promises, including introducing a resolution seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in the first session of the Legislative Assembly.
“The Assembly subsequently passed a resolution seeking the restoration of statehood with an overwhelming majority after Cabinet approval,” he said, adding that the Assembly also recalled the 2000 Autonomy Resolution and the 2024 resolution on special status.
Highlighting welfare measures, Ramzan said the government increased financial assistance for the marriage of poor families from Rs 50000 to Rs 75,000, introduced free bus services for women, students and persons with disabilities, doubled the quantity of free ration for eligible households, provided 200 units of free electricity to Antyodaya Anna Yojana consumers, and extended the benefit of six free LPG cylinders.
On education, he said restoring the October–November academic session addressed a long‑standing demand of students and parents, while the passage of the Private Universities Bill strengthened higher education.
Ramzan added that employment generation remained a priority, with recruitment underway to fill vacant posts.
He further highlighted the government’s approval of an option for eligible employees under the New Pension Scheme to switch to the Old Pension Scheme.
Defending the government’s performance, Ramzan said it should be assessed in the context of limited powers under the UT framework. “Demanding complete accountability from elected representatives while denying them the requisite powers goes against democratic principles,” he remarked.
Minister for Rural Development Department Javed Ahmad Dar told KNO that restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees remained among the top priorities of the NC‑led government.
He said the Government was working to fulfil its manifesto promises despite limited financial resources.
Dar highlighted initiatives in agriculture and horticulture, including establishing Centres of Excellence in all 20 districts, developing pesticide and fertiliser testing labs in Shopian and Baramulla, and proposing similar facilities in Srinagar. He said the government had raised subsidies on anti‑hail nets for traditional orchards from 50% to 75%, strengthened cold‑chain infrastructure, modernised fruit mandis through digitalisation, and encouraged high‑density plantations.
He added that the government was pursuing weather‑based crop insurance, establishing a separate enforcement directorate for agriculture and horticulture, and implementing the Yuva Mission to provide employment opportunities to over 4.5 lakh youth. Welfare measures included restoring the Darbar Move, increasing marriage assistance, announcing six gas cylinders under manifesto commitments, and providing amnesty on electricity dues up to March 2026.
Dar said the government remained committed to equitable development across Jammu, the Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal and Kashmir, and would continue efforts to expand welfare measures, strengthen agriculture and horticulture, and create more opportunities for youth during the remaining three years of its tenure. (KNO)