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MHA considers new J&K panel to steer development
A one-point decision-making platform will address “needs of people” in a much more cohesive and cogent manner, according to home ministry officials.
The Jammu and Kashmir division of the Union home ministry is considering a creating a high-level empowered committee headed by home minister Amit Shah and comprising representatives from all other critical ministries such as road transport, women and child development and rural development to prioritize and decide on schemes that will be implemented there on a war footing, a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.
“The idea is to make a positive impact in the lives of ordinary people at the shortest possible time,” the official added.
The move comes more than a month after the Centre stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status by revoking Article 370, and divided it into two union territories – J&K and Ladakh.
A one-point decision-making platform will address “needs of people” in a much more cohesive and cogent manner, according to home ministry officials. Schemes of the home ministry have already been fast-tracked in Jammu and Kashmir. For instance, the MHA has cleared ₹700 crore to J&K and the raising of two additional battalions for the J&K police. The ministry has also given a push to various Border Area Development schemes.
“An overarching committee will allow a more focused approach,” the official cited above said explaining the rationale behind the committee.
In a related development on Wednesday, senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration — chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam and principal secretary Rohit Kansal — and the MHA officials discussed the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act, 2019, aimed at splitting the state into two UTs. The meeting lasted for about two hours. This was the second consecutive meeting in as many days among the top officials. On Monday, Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla chaired the meeting.
As per the Act, the two union territories will be created on October 31.
