Srinagar July 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday called for modifying the guidelines of Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) to expand its ambit.
 “It has been observed that some conservative provisions of SKEWPY prevent overwhelming majority of youth to get benefit of the scheme, as such, there is urgent need of making the guidelines easy and smooth,” he said and asked for revisiting the provisions meant for providing voluntary allowances to unemployed youth and other aspects for necessary modification.
 Chairing the District Development Board Meeting of Srinagar District at SKICC here, the Chief Minister also directed the Planning and Development Department to constitute a Task Force and finalize a comprehensive and concrete package for the betterment and economic welfare of artisans.      
 “There is a substantial population of artisans associated with various handicrafts who require immediate attention to better their lot and help their economic growth and development” he said.
 “You should cooperate with J&K Bank, handicrafts, handloom, industries and other departments in finalizing a comprehensive and economically viable package for these artisans” the Chief Minister told the Planning Department.
 Omar Abdullah hinted at a new Constituency Development Fund (CDF) scheme to make legislators more empowered and enhance the ambit of the scheme.  “Under the new proposed scheme the CDF can be raised from present level of Rs. 50 lakhs to over Rs. 1 crore, earmarking funds for different sectors to ensure balanced development of all sectors in a particular Assembly Constituency,” he said, adding that the scheme is under the active consideration and its efficacy is being worked out.
 The Chief Minister after hearing the development demands from various legislators approved the overall development plan of Srinagar District at Rs. 80 crore, which includes over Rs. 45 crore under district sector and about Rs. 35 crore under the State sector.
 Earlier, the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, presented a resume of last year’s achievements in a power point presentation. He said that 99 per cent expenditure has been incurred under the District Plan in the district during the last fiscal.
 The Minister for Rural Development, Ali Muhammad Sagar, underlined the need for enhancing Srinagar District Annual Plan and providing special package for speedy development of basic amenities in the city.
 The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Tourism and Housing  Nasir Aslam Wani, CM’s Advisors, Mubarak Gul & Devender Singh Rana, Chairperson, State Commission for Women, Shamima Firdous, Legislators Dr. Mustaf Kamal, Pir Afaaq Ahmad, Irfan Ahmad Shah and G.Q.Pardasi, Chief Secretary, S. S. Kapur, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretaries, Commissioner Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Heads of the Departments, Chief Engineers of various engineering wings and district officers.
 The legislators presented various demands relating to the improvement of roads, water supply schemes, drainage and sewerage system, LT and HT up-gradation, construction of play fields, improvement in healthcare facilities, school buildings up-gradation, establishment of a fish market and extension of Rangil Water Supply scheme to more areas.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST