Page 16 - NIS English 01-15 Aug 2025

COVER STORY | Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh

Urban Development
forward, perhaps that was what they were waiting
for, and the countrymen gave him this task, and he additional e-buses are being started
completed it. 200 under the PM e-bus service.
82 projects were completed in AMRUT-I, 153
STEPS TAKEN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE projects were approved in AMRUT-II, costing
The transformation that Jammu and Kashmir is Rs 1665.10 crore.
undergoing is the result of the efforts of the central
government in the last 10-11 years. Be it refugee Smart City Mission
families, the Valmiki community, or sanitation 47,040
workers, everyone has now democratic rights in a Project work houses approved in
real sense. This mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, 261 completed. PMAY (U), construc-
tion of 30,700 hous-
Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas’ is the key driver project work es completed.
of developed Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time, 26 in progress.
refugees from Pakistan, the Valmiki community, and
the families of sanitation workers have the right to Rural Development
vote in the local body elections. The long-standing
demand of the Valmiki community to get the benefit 3.35 Lakh houses approved in PMAY
of the SC category has been fulfilled. For the first (G), construction of 3.07 lakh
time, seats have been reserved in the Assembly for houses completed.
the ST community. All these communities, ‘Padari Swachh Bharat Mission
Tribe’, ‘Pahari Ethnic Group’, ‘Gadda Brahmin’, and
‘Koli’ have also been given ST status. Other Backward Villages get ODF 477
Class (OBC) reservation has been implemented for 100% Plus status. Landless farmers
the first time in Panchayat, Nagar Palika, and Munic- alloted 5 marla of
ipal Corporation. Panchayats land.
When Article 370 and 35A were in force in Kashmir, 45% plastic-free.
women there were discriminated. On being married
to someone outside the state, they would lose the
right to get ancestral property. But after this article It was always my firm belief
was abrogated, they are enjoying the same rights that what had happened in
as women in other states of India. Not only this, Jammu and Kashmir was a
great betrayal- to our nation
but Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were deprived and to the people living there.
of the full benefits of the Constitution for decades. It was also my strong desire
This was an injustice to the Constitution as well as an to do whatever I can to
injustice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and remove this blot.
Ladakh. Now, the residents of Jammu and Kashmir
and Ladakh have got the same rights as the citizens - Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister
of other states because the unity of the country is
the unequivocal priority of the current central gov-
ernment. Most of the houses being built under the MOVING ON THE PATH OF PROSPERITY-
PM Awas Yojana are owned by women. Har Ghar PEACE-PROGRESS
Jal Yojana, construction of thousands of toilets, free Now, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh regions have
treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman been brought on par with other states of the country
Yojana, have made the lives of the people here by connecting them to the mainstream. After the
very easy. For the first time, the common people of abrogation of Article 370, 890 central laws were
Jammu and Kashmir have also got the assurance of implemented, 205 state laws were repealed, and 130
social justice that has been given in the Constitution state laws were either amended or implemented. To
of India. guarantee secured rights, a 10 percent reservation

14 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || August 1-15, 2025