Heads of Kashmir Working Groups announced

Srinagar, July 2 (UNI) The names of heads of various working groups on Kashmir have been announced, an official spokesman said today.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced at the conclusion of the second round-table conference here on May 24-25 that five working groups would be formed to look into broad issues and problems vis-a-vis Kashmir.

He said National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari has accepted to be the head of a working group to deliberate on measures to improve condition of the people of Jammu and Kashmir affected by militancy and schemes to rehabilitate all orphans and widows affected by insurgency.

M K Rasgotra, a former diplomat, has accepted to be the Chairman of a working group to recommend measures to simplify procedures to facilitate travel across the Line of Control, increase goods traffic and expand people-to-people contact, including promotion of pilgrimage and group tourism, the spokesman added.

He said former Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr C Rangarajan has accepted to be the Chairman of a working group to deliberate on balanced economic development, employment generation, balanced regional and sub regional development within the state.

Former Chief Justice of India Justice A M Ahmadi has accepted to be the chairman of a working group to deliberate on matters relating to the special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the India Union and methods of strengthening democracy, secularism and the rule of law in the state, the spokesman added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad carried forward the constitution of groups and held serious discussions with various political parties and groups in this direction.

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