Srinagar: The Narendra Modi government has decided to introduce three religious yatra (tour) circuits in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir — two Hindu pilgrimages and one for the followers of Sufism.
The announcement was made by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament Tuesday, while presenting the budget for J&K.
The three circuits are:
- Shiv Khori-Uttar Bani-Purmandal-Mata Sukhrala Deviji
- Shankaracharya-Mata Khir Bhawani-Martand (Mattan); and
- Makhdoom Sahib-Khanqah-e-Moula-Watlab-Babareshi-Pakharpora-Aishmuqam.
The third circuit will be the first government-backed Sufi pilgrimage in J&K.
“The number of pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is likely to cross 86 lakh this year, which will be the highest in the last five years,” Sitharaman said before introducing the new circuits.
“The ensuing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra commencing in June/July this year may bring hope of revival of tourism in J&K in view of the fact that the yatris, besides paying obeisance at the holy shrine, also visit other tourism locations, thus re-energising the tourism industry in the Valley, which is the livelihood of a major chunk of the population,” she said.
“For tourism and culture sectors, an allocation of Rs 706 crore has been made for the year 2020-21, which is Rs 260 crore more than the previous year’s budget allocation.”
The National Conference-Congress coalition government between 2008-2014 had also floated a similar proposal — it had allotted Rs 150 crore for a Sufi circuit in Kashmir, a Hindu pilgrimage circuit in Jammu and a Buddhist circuit in Ladakh — but it did not take off.
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Budget crosses Rs 1 lakh crore
This is the first budget for Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370, granting it special powers, was scrapped in August last year, and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the union territories of J&K and Ladakh. The government also said this is the first time the budgetary allocation for J&K has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore.
Sitharaman said in her speech: “The budget for 2020-21 for J&K shall cross Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time, an indicator of our commitment to make J&K a model of development. This is the highest ever budget envisaged for Jammu and Kashmir.”
The government has shifted its focus to certain sectors, through increased expenditure and legislation. The sectors include education, agriculture, tourism, rural development, employment and skill development. All the areas have seen a significant increase in fiscal allotment as compared to the previous budget.
Sitharaman said that for the agriculture and horticulture sectors, an allocation of Rs 1,872 crore has been made, which is Rs 680 crore more than the previous year.
“Nearly 70 per cent of the population of J&K depends upon agriculture and allied sectors. Therefore, we propose to give special focus on agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors,” she said.
“High-density apple plantation has the potential to increase the income of farmers three to four times. Therefore, an area of 355 hectares shall be brought under high-density apple plantation, besides an additional 1,500 hectares under area expansion.”
Rural development has gone up Rs 1,951 crore to Rs 5,284 crore, while for the school and higher education sector, the new allocation is Rs 2,392 crore — Rs 1,000 crore more than last year.
Sitharaman also announced an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for filling up 50,000 vacant posts.
Health and medical education
At a time when the entire world is grappling with the threat of COVID-19 or coronavirus, Sitharaman has also announced an increase in the allocation for J&K’s health and medical sectors.
“For health and medical education sector, an allocation of Rs 1,268 crore has been made for the year 2020-21, which is Rs 500 crore more than the previous year’s budget allocation,” the minister said.
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Now watch the lefty libtards running to their new York times uncle and Washington Post chacha with complaints of how Modi is turning J&K into a Hindu land – and they will oblige faithfully with another round of virulent articles.