SRINAGAR: During a press conference on Thursday, Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that nearly 500,000 individuals in Jammu and Kashmir are currently without housing. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for this announcement. Chouhan highlighted that 93% of the housing allocations under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in J&K have been completed, with eligible beneficiaries already identified. “A recent survey revealed five lakh individuals deserving homes; allotments will be finalized post-verification,” he stated.
Previously, Omar had raised concerns regarding the criteria for determining housing scheme beneficiaries in J&K. “The government must clarify its definition of ‘homeless’ before any land is allocated,” he remarked in July 2023. He expressed his opposition to including individuals who migrated to Kashmir after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
Several parties in J&K have previously accused the Centre of trying to settle ‘outsiders’ in the region.
Chouhan underscored that a developed J&K is essential for PM Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’ He commended the state’s initiative, ‘Kisan Khidmat Ghar,’ which serves as a one-stop center for farmers to access all agricultural services.
The minister stated that farmers in the Union Territory who have received land allotments but lack official documentation would be eligible for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Additionally, the government plans to introduce the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme soon to ensure accurate mapping and inclusion of horticulture crops under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
Chouhan expressed his contentment with the diversity of horticultural crops in the region but raised concerns about imported plant materials, which often become infected within two or three years. To combat this issue, a ₹150 crore Clean Plant Centre will be established in Srinagar under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture. “This center will focus on providing clean, disease-free planting materials for apples, almonds, walnuts, and berries. Private nurseries will also receive support to ensure the availability of high-quality, pathogen-free plants for farmers,” he added.
Highlighting saffron as a symbol of Kashmir’s identity, Chouhan announced plans for the Centre to establish a tissue culture lab and nursery aimed at boosting saffron production. Furthermore, he mentioned that the National Saffron Mission will be revised to better suit local conditions, with an expert team of scientists being formed to enhance productivity and minimize losses.
