Srinagar, Jul 24 (KNO): The cabinet minister, Javid Ahmad Dar on Thursday said that the restoration of statehood is a process as well as a struggle and added that they are hopeful of achieving the success in this regard.
Dar, who heads Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, told the reporters that the process for Panchayat elections in Jammu & Kashmir has already been started and that they are expecting to establish the three-tier system once again in the region.
Talking to the reporters, Dar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while responding to the query on Statehood restoration, said that the government’s efforts are on to fight for the rights. “We have passed the resolution in the first cabinet meeting while the statements and discussions continue to take place since then. The Chief Minister during his visits to New Delhi has been raising this issue again and again. It is a process and struggle; we are hopeful that we will succeed in this regard,” he said.
About Panchayat elections, he said that the polls will be held soon. “National Conference has a history. The polls were conducted for the first time in 1980 during the NC regime, but the participation was less. Later record-breaking polling was recorded during Omar Abdullah’s tenure. The last Panchayat polls were held in 2020. As the tenure of Panchayats has ended, the process has been started and we are eyeing to establish the three-tier system once again,” he said.
Furthermore, Dar, who also heads the Agriculture Production Department, added that they have been trying to provide better facilities to the people. “The government has been trying to ensure better market avenues to the young entrepreneurs,” he said.
About HADP, he said that the Union Territory’s scheme with projects worth Rs 500 crore for five years, having 16 projects for Agriculture sector and rest for others. “Our website was down, but now it has been restored. The farmers can now once again get the benefits,” he said.
Reacting to the reports on cabinet expansion, the Minister said that it will be known to all whenever it takes place—(KNO)