Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale on Thursday said the Centre may restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections in the Union Territory before October this year.
While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Athawale said that Assembly elections in J&K may also be held in October.
In December last year, Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to hold Assembly polls in J&K by September 30, 2024.
Athawale said the polls are scheduled to be held in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Chattisgarh before October.
“And that before October, statehood can be restored and elections would also happen in J&K in October,” he said.
He amplified Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement which he had made at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 that the centre would restore the statehood to J&K.
While appreciating the high voter turnout in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in the region, the union minister said that tourism has flourished since the special provision was revoked in August 2019.
“Over 2.11 crore tourists including foreigners have visited here. People don’t fear going to Kashmir now. Earlier, they wanted to come but terrorism was stopping them from arriving here. Now Lt Governor told me peace is prevailing despite some incidents,” he said.
According to him, they have given over 2 lakh pre and post-matric scholarships to SC and above 84000 scholarships to OBC students in J&K. “SC and OBC constitute 8 percent each in J&K, but there is not a single SC family in Kashmir,” he added.
The Union Minister further informed that a total number of 74-cases were registered under Atrocities Act against SC and OBCs.
He said that presently, there are 16 old-age-homes across J&K and that the government plans to open one in each district.
The minister said that his party Republican Party of India (RPI) would field 10-15 candidates in J&K assembly polls.
He said the government has undertaken several initiatives for the socio-economic empowerment of the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society.
“People should be made aware about the various central government schemes so that deserving people take benefits and justice is ensured to the last man standing,” he said and directed the officers to implement Central schemes at field level more effectively in Jammu and Kashmir.
Athawale enquired about the population and the reservation benefits of the SC/ST/OBC people in Jammu and Kashmir and directed the concerned officers to take steps accordingly so that benefits percolate to the lower strata of the society.
Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda gave a detailed presentation of the factual position of the reserved community in Jammu and Kashmir.
She provided details about the scholarship scheme, prevention of atrocities act, old age homes, residential schools among other things and highlighted the various initiatives taken by government for welfare of reserved category population.