Calling for creating a new basis of legitimacy for the peace and resolution process to take shape, Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti today said the challenge before the leadership of the State and the country is to insulate the process from the setbacks that have derailed it in the past.

“The focus has to be on involving the principal stakeholders – the people of Jammu and Kashmir – in the resolution process to make it sustainable and productive,” the Chief Minister said while addressing a public gathering after inaugurating a new building for the Government Degree College here.

Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister for Education, Mr Naeem Akhtar, Minister of State for Education, Ms Priya Sethi, Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, Mr Kuldeep Raj Gupta, Member Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Legislators,  Mr Ravinder Raina, Choudhary Qamar Hussain, Mr Surinder Choudhary and Mr Vibodh Gupta were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister also laid stress on revival and continuation of peace and confidence building process with Pakistan which had helped transform the situation in the State and along the borders between 2002 and 2005. “The Government of India must, with fresh resolve, work through reconciliatory political measures and through public participation towards the resolution of the issue,” she said and added that Jammu & Kashmir could become a bridge of peace and a hub of economic activity in the region given its geostrategic location.

Calling for expanding the ambit and scope of the cross-LoC movement of the people and goods, the Chief Minister said the full potential of the State can be harnessed only through opening it up and empowering all the regions to benefit from the new market economy growing in the region. “For a lasting solution of the State’s problems, substantial political and economic measures have to be taken that meet the reasonable aspirations of the people in all the regions of the State,” she said.

Ms Mehbooba said even if Pakistan may be, due to own political reasons, presently reluctant to reciprocate the peace overtures from New Delhi, whatever can be done to address the internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue must be done without delay.  “Government of India shall have to take one or more steps than our neighboring country (Pakistan) as Jammu and Kashmir is our state and we have to apply balm on the wounds of the people,” she said and added that we have to have a roadmap of hope for the people of Jammu and Kashmir who are embroiled in a challenging and pernicious situation.

Reiterating that the Government is giving focused attention on education sector, the Chief Minister said the general education needs to be supplemented with skills to increase employability of the youth.

Referring to the new Degree College inaugurated today, the Chief Minister said that the college will cater to the needs of higher education in the region and shall fulfill the long pending demand of the people of the area.

The Chief Minister said that the establishment of the Degree College at Nowshera will also help promote girls education. She added that the Government would prioritize establishment of girls’ hostel at Nowshera to facilitate the stay of girl students from the surrounding areas. She also said that certain steps need to be taken to develop a skill development initiative to enhance employability of the youth of the area.

Making his remarks, Dr Nirmal Singh said that the establishment of the Degree College at Nowshera marks a milestone in the education sector in the area. He added that such works are a few of the many developmental initiatives that the Government is taking for the betterment of the State. He said this will also give an opportunity to the youth of the area to contribute towards nation building.

Addressing the well attended gathering, Mr Naeem Akhtar congratulated the people of the area for having the new building of the Degree College at Nowshera. He said that the Government is making all efforts to streamline the education system in the State. He said that out 95 colleges in the State 54 colleges now have their own buildings. While as out of the 41 remaining 25 are under construction, he said and added that concerted efforts are being made to complete 13 college buildings this year. He also talked about adding professional courses in the colleges so as to enhance the entrepreneurial skills in the students. The Minister said that new faculty has also been appointed for subjects like English, Mathematics, etc and recruitment for other subjects is under process.

The new building of the Degree College Nowshera has been constructed by JKPCC and has come up at an estimated cost Rs 11.5 crore.

Also present on the occasion were Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Navin K Choudhary, DIG Poonch-Rajouri Range, Johnny William, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Mr Shabir Ahmad Bhat and SSP Rajouri among other officers of the police civil administration.

Stressing the importance of skill development among the youth, the Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that in addition to basic education, development of skills not only helps career progression but also adds value to the organization one works for. She urged youth to join skill development courses to improve job prospects.

Speaking at a function organized in connection with the inauguration of Food Craft Institute Jammu at Jagti (Nagrota) here, the Chief Minister said that the institute will be an addition to the tourism infrastructure in Jammu, catering to the needs of skilled manpower in the tourism sector and shall in its own way contribute towards the State Government’s vision of developing Jammu as an independent tourist destination.

Also present on the occasion were, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Ms Priya Sethi, Member Parliament, Mr Jugal Kishore, MLA Nagrota, Mr Devinder Rana and MLCs Mr Ramesh Arora and Charanjeet Singh Khalsa.

The Chief Minister complimented the concerned department for having completed the new building in a record time. She also expressed happiness on the fact that the institute is helping contribute to the skill development initiative. She appreciated the fact that many pass-outs from the institute have already been placed and are earning a living for themselves.

Regarding tourism sector in the state, Ms Mehbooba said that J&K has been gifted by nature with beauty and if we are able to tap this potential optimally by enhancing the skills of the youth in tourism industry we shall be able to develop J&K as one of the best tourism destinations in the world. Earlier, the Chief Minister also distributed course completion certificates among some students.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Food Craft Institute will act as a feeder to the tourism and hospitality industry in the state by providing expert manpower and shall give a boost to the tourism sector.

He said that with the opening of premier institutes like IIT, IIM and other similar institutes will help establish Jammu as an educational hub apart from a major tourism destination. Deputy Chief Minister while reiterating the commitment of the government to develop Jammu as an independent tourist destination said that various development projects are underway and these shall help increase tourist footfall in the area.

In her address, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Priya Sethi said that the Food Craft Institute is helping to achieve the goals envisioned under  ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ programme where the  stress has been laid on enhancing the skill and employability quotient of the youth enabling them to seek employment in the tourism sector and food industry. She said that the institution also offers courses in gardening, landscaping and of tourist facilitators which provide opportunities to the students to explore varied specialized job avenues.

The new building of the Food Craft Institute Jammu, has been constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 6 crore. The institute has been carrying out certificate courses, the duration of which varies from 6 days to 6 months. The Institute has been playing a very vital role in the implementation of the “Hunar Se Rozgar Tak” scheme by way of enhancing the skills of young boys and girls in the State for their placement in Hospitality Industry.

The total number of students who have been trained under “Hunar Se Rozgar Tak” scheme since 2010 till date is around 7500. Many students who have been trained by the FCI Jammu have been placed in the various food chains and hotels. With the shifting of the Institute to the new building, the Institute plans to run one and a half year diploma courses in the coming years.

Principal Secretary to CM, Mr Navin K Choudhary, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu, Mr Danesh Rana, Secretary Tourism, Mr Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Mr Simrandeep Singh, Director Tourism Jammu, Ms Sushma Chauhan and other senior officers of the tourism department were also present on the occasion.

Expressing    concern over slow pace of restoration work on the prestigious Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, today stressed upon roping in other agencies to supplement the ongoing works being carried out by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI)   so that the restoration work is expedited and grandeur of the heritage site is restored.

The Chief Minister issued these directions while chairing 7^th Governing Body meeting of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society (MMHS).

Also present in the meeting were Minister for Finance, Culture and Labor & Employment Dr Haseeb Drabu, Minister of State for Education, Tourism and Culture, Ms Priya Sethi, Legislators, Mr Rajesh Gupta and Mr Ashok Khajuria, and other official and non-official members of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society.

The Committee took a comprehensive review of the action taken report on the decisions taken in the sixth meeting of the governing body.

Stressing the need to fix timeline for taking up various components of work of the State Protected Monument, the Chief Minister issued directions for identifying agencies other than ASI having relevant expertise in conservation of heritage sites, so that they are entrusted with the work to restore the buildings on fast-track.

The Chief Minister also issued directions to the Department of Tourism to simultaneously take up landscaping and beautification works in the complex so that it gets a facelift till the restoration process is underway and the complex may be opened for public and tourists.

The Governing body also approved sanctioning of Rs 50 lakh for undertaking the preservation and shifting of nearly five lakh rare manuscripts, documents, reports, books etc.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need to build stakeholdership among the people in the area that this historic site is an integral part of our heritage and culture and get their support to help remove unauthorized parking around the complex which is vital in restoring the pristine glory of Mubarak Mandi complex. She directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu to personally look into it.

The Chief Minister also asked the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to facilitate shifting of any remaining offices from the complex so that the restoration work could be carried out smoothly.

The Chief Minister asked the ASI representatives to enhance their capacity and resources at the site so that the restoration work can be expedited.

Calling for better synergy between various agencies involved in restoration works, Ms Mehbooba laid stress on emulating best practices in conservation of heritage sites and buildings.

Chief Secretary, Mr B R Sharma, Financial Commissioner Planning and Development, Mr B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to CM Mr Navin K Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, PDD, Mr Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Secretary Culture, Ms Dilshad Khan, Secretary Tourism, Mr Farooq Ahmed Shah, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Mr Simrandeep Singh, Director Tourism Jammu, Ms Sushma Chouhan, and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.