Jammu, Mar 16: The coalition government is bringing legislation during the current session of the House, envisaging ban on the conversion of farm land for commercial use.
 Replying to discussion on grants of the departments under his charge, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir urged the members to support the legislation.
 “We are active and alert to save the agriculture land and for that reason a cabinet sub-committee was constituted last year,” he said, adding that the government is bringing the legislation and “you have to pass it.”
 Agreeing that there are lot of issues within the department affecting its functioning, Mir said so for no seniority list has been prepared and implemented in the department.
 “Few years back a list was prepared under order no 279, but it ended up in the court with a stay. Later another list was also stayed. Now tell me how am I responsible for the condition of the department”, he said.
 Listing certain shortcomings in the department, Mir said that it is a matter of concern that more and more people are moving towards service sector.
 “The main reason is less budgetary support and meagre finances which has led to stagnation in the sector. That is why youth are shifting from this sector giving rise to unemployment as service sector is not able to absorb all”. He said the government has now risen to make this sector viable.
 The Minister said the department has moved a proposal to the Finance Department seeking approval for the absorption of agriculture technocrats.
 Expressing concern over the agitation launched by the agri-technocrats demanding absorption in the department, Mir termed their stance unfortunate and said “they have been conveyed during numerous meetings that a plan has been sent to the finance department for approval with regard to their absorption in the department”.
  “A policy has been formulated, which was later sent to planning department, now finance department is studying it and as and when it will give the approval, these technocrats will be absorbed  in the department”, he said.
 “Leaders of these agitating technocrats have met me as well as the Chief Minister, who told them that a policy is being formulated. I fail to understand why they are still on dharna”, he said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST