File Photo: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed
Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday approved a state-sponsored social assistance scheme for girl child 'Ladli Beti' which will be implemented in six districts with low child sex ratio.
"The state Cabinet, which met here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, gave its nod to the adoption of 'Ladli Beti' for its implementation in six selected districts - Kathua, Jammu, Samba, Budgam, Pulwama and Anantnag - exhibiting low and declining child sex ratio," an official spokesman said.
He said the scheme has been launched to create a strong positive disposition towards the girl child and aims to reverse the alarming trend of declining child sex ratio.
The scheme addresses the concerns of girl's right from birth to adulthood by providing financial security to the girls, he said.
Under the scheme, the state government will contribute Rs 1,000 per month towards the birth of every girl child with effect from April 1, 2015 for the next 14 years. Upon reaching the age of 21, the girl child would receive a sum of Rs 6.5 lakh, the spokesman said.
Only those girl child, born to parents with annual income from all sources less than Rs 75,000 per annum, shall be eligible for the benefits under the scheme, he said.
The Cabinet also approved the concept paper on launching J-K Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission which would work under the overall supervision of the Chief Minister, the spokesperson informed.
The concept paper envisages setting up an exclusive administrative institution which will energise, boost and reinvigorate skill development landscape in the state in a sustained and integrated manner, instead of multi-sector and crosscutting efforts by various departments so as to enhance employability, income and economic inclusiveness of the youth of the state, the spokesman said.
He said the cabinet instructed the Planning and Development Department to come up with a comprehensive memorandum regarding skill development in the next Cabinet meeting.
The cabinet also gave its nod to the lease of 07 kanals and 07 marlas (nearly one acre) land to New Kashmir Fruit Association at Fruit and Vegetable Market, Parimpora, in Srinagar for the construction of Cold/Controlled Atmosphere stores and allied infrastructure under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, he said.
It was also decided that apart from the lease deed, the Agriculture Production Department shall sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the lessee regarding mutually agreed modalities in respect of the proposed project, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved the revised master plan for Pahalgam which has been named as 'Pahalgam 2032'.
The plan has been prepared keeping in view the sensitivity of the local ecology and environment and requirements for tourism and development, the spokesman said.
He said that the revised plan also proposes an action plan for solid waste management, sewerage disposal and water supply be prepared for the entire local area of Pahalgam Development Authority, including the existing village settlements.