Mufti seeks time from people to bring change in state

Appealing people to have patience and give his government some time, the Chief Minister said that things can’t change overnight and it will take some time to bring change in the system.

During an interaction with the journalists on the opening of the civil secretariat here after six months, Sayeed said that people must have patience to allow the government to rise to their expectations.

"It will take time to put the system back on track. I appeal to the people to have patience and allow the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (PDP-BJP) coalition government to fulfill the promises made to them. The coalition government has just completed two months. Some people talk as if we have been in power for years. Things cannot happen overnight, it takes time," the chief minister said.

Responding to a series of questions, Chief Minister said that, “New Recruitment Policy will ensure jobs for educated youth in fair, time-bound manner.”

He said a new recruitment policy has been announced by the Government to speed up filling up of vacancies so that the jobs are provided to educated youth in a transparent and time-bound manner.     

Identifying restoration of flood-damaged infrastructure and improvement of roads, including the Srinagar-Jammu Highways, as his priority areas, he said there is no deficit in the Agenda of the Alliance of the Coalition Government, which needs time to set the system right. 

Giving out an assurance to change the system of governance, Mufti Sayeed said the Government is working to make the system responsive by putting in place a single window clearance system for ensuring time-bound administrative disposal.    
Regarding the financial position of the State, Chief Minister asserted that there is no financial crunch.

He said there are two aspects of Government spending, one relating to the routine expenditure of the State and the other with specific reference to relief and rehabilitation.

“The first one is being met despite previous liabilities,” he said.

As regards to relief and rehabilitation in the state, Mufti Sayeed said the Government is in the process of finalizing the source of funding the rehabilitation expenditure with the Central Government.  

He said the State was confronted with another threat of flood which was thwarted by timely management and following a proper flood drill.

“We have provided a token of compensation to uninsured marginal traders and destitute, who lost everything in the September 2014 deluge. The people who have suffered damage to their property and trade at a higher scale are also being compensated,” he assured.
 
Referring to his focus on tourism sector, Mufti Sayeed described it as the lifeline of State’s economy as it is the only sector that provides instant relief to the people. He said there is a need to change the negative perception about J&K in the rest of the country, which is affecting its image as an ideal tourist destination.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)