Azad for top facilities in snow-bound areas of J

Srinagar, Jan 11 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said the priority of his government was to create road communication, educational facilities, improve healthcare and generate employment in the state's far-flung areas which remain cut off in winter due to snow and closure of passes.

Addressing a public gathering at Machil, he said there was a dire need to improve the basic facilities in such areas and his government was striving hard in this regard.

''There are several places which remain cut off for more than six months and the people of these far-flung areas have to encounter many difficulties,'' Mr Azad added.

He said Machil would be granted the status of block headquarter in view of the area remaining cut off for more than six months in a year. This would ease the difficulties of the people to a large extent, the Chief Minister added.

He said added attention would be paid to provide better medicare facilities to the people of areas such as Machil.

Mr Azad announced that an on-the-spot recruitment drive would be conducted for the youth of the area during April-May. The Agriculture Department would explore possibility of procuring potatoes from the farmers to give an impetus to the local economy, he added.

UNI