Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Jammu & Kashmir package for Employment, Development, Relief and Security

Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at the end of his three-day visit to Jammu & Kashmir, announced the following comprehensive package of Rs. 6,165 crore covering various aspects of development and security, with a thrust on generation of new employment opportunities for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir and relief for migrants affected by militancy and cross-border shelling.

1. Ministry of Railways

(a) The 287-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah rail line will be completed within five years at a cost of Rs.3,600 crore. This railway line is vital for Jammu & Kashmir from the point of view of acceleration of its socio-economic development, promoting national integration and strengthening India's security infrastructure.

The project will be completed and the first train will roll into the Kashmir Valley before August 15, 2007. I am happy to announce speeding up the implementation of this ambitious project in the 150th Year of the Indian Railways. Our country has requisite experience of completing railway projects in difficult terrain in record time, as is evident from the example of Konkan Railway. Suitable mechanisms will soon be put in place for raising additional resources, As a first step, this year's provision is being increased to Rs. 400 crore. Over the next five years, this will require Rs.1500 crores additional fund over previously projected requirement and this additionally will be provided.

(b) The Jammu Tawi - Jalandhar Line will be doubled within the next five years at a cost of Rs.386 crore.

2. Border Roads Organisation (Ministry of Defence) and Ministry of Surface Transport

(a) Nimu Zangal-Padam-Darcha Road linking to Manali-Sarchu Road will be completed

over the next four years at a cost of Rs.195 crore.

(b) The above road would be a part of another ambitious project - namely, the all-weather 474-km road to Leh via Manali, including construction of the of the Rohtang Tunnel. This road, which passes through four high-altitude mountain passes, would be completed before 2010 at a cost of Rs.1335 crore.

I am happy to announce that I shall flag off start of construction on this project on May 26 during my visit to Manali.

C) In addition, I am happy to announce the Government's decision to advance

completion of a major road sector in the State. The construction of the road from

Batote to Kistwar - Sinthan Pass - Khanabal, part of which has been declared

National Highway 1-B by the Ministry of Surface Transport, would be speeded up by

BRDB. It will now be completed by 2007, as against the earlier deadline of 2013.

3. Ministry of Textiles

Jammu & Kashmir's traditional cottage industries of Wool, Pashmina, Sericulture, Handicrafts, and Carpet Weaving enjoy a great reputation. They also provide employment to a large number of artisans and craftsmen.

The Ministry of Textiles will provide Rs.70 crore over five years for further developing this important sector. The programme will also focus on revival of exportable tweed and Kashmir's famous Kani Shawl.

4. Ministry of Agriculture

a) The package contains the following two programmes in agriculture, which sustains

the livelihood of many people in the State.

b) Technology Mission Horticulture for J & K Rs.100 crore Over 5 years for

Agri-Export Zones for Apples and Walnuts.

c) Eco Restoration of Degraded Catchments Rs.100 crore Over 5 years of Chenab, Jhelum & Shivatiks in J&K using participatory watershed approach.

5. Planning Commission

The Border Area Development Programme Fund for J&K will be increased to Rs.500 crore over the next five years (Rs.100 crore per year). Half of this amount will be made available directly to District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs), with focus on taking up economic / and Infrastructure development programmes in the Border.

Ministry of Home Affairs

Two India Reserve Batallions (IRB) will be raised over the next two years - one in 2002-03 and the other in 2003-04 - at a cost of Rs. 26 crore,

Rs.25 crore will be provided over the next five years (Rs. 5 crore per year) for Incentive Schemes for 4000 police personnel who are members of SOG (Special Operations Group).

Rs.5 crore will be provided over 5 years for better training of and weaponry to the J & K Volunteer Force (elite group of SPOs). The Government has decided to increase the ex gratia payable to the next of kin of SPOs killed in action against terrorists from Rs.1.25 lakhs to Rs.2 lakhs per person.

7. Village Defence Committees (VDCs)

Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have proved to be very useful in supplementing the efforts of the security forces in counter-terrorism and counter-infiltration operations. VDCs will be provided with better weaponry. They will also be given higher allowance on a selective basis.

8. National Defence Fund

(a) Rs.10 crore will be provided for provision of new tents and common civic amenities for Border Migrants in J & K. Of this amount, Rs. 5 crore will be released immediately.

(b) Rs. 8 crore will be provided for the Police Welfare Fund of J & K Police this year. This

will be used for upgrading police hospitals for treatment of police personnel wounded

in terrorist attacks; establishment of a Rehabilitation Centre for Widows of police

personnel killed by terrorists; Schools for orphans of police personnel killed by

terrorists.

Grand Total : Rs. 6,165 crore Enhancement of Assistance to Migrants For Border Migrants

Ration

Provision of free foodgrains will be increased from 9 kg. per head per month to 11 kg per head per month.

Financial Assistance

(a) This will be increased from Rs.200 per person per month to Rs.400 per person per

month limited to Rs-1600 per family per month

(b) Old Tents will be replaced with new ones and adequate tents will be provided with

assistance from the National Defence Fund, to all eligible migrants.

(c) Assistance of Rs. 200 per animal per month to each animal-rearing family.

For Kashmiri Migrants

For Kashmiri Migrants, the upper limit of financial assistance per family will be increased from Rs.2400 per month to Rs.3000 per family per month, with the same scale per family member per month.