NC for ''empowering'' common man

Jammu, Nov 18 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Omar Abdullah today said if voted to power, the party would empower the common man ''because if he is empowered, the delivery mechanism is bound to become efficient and lead to an effective governance''.

''The model of regional autonomy as envisaged by the party will devolve power to the regional and sub-regional level thereby ensuring the participation of the people of all regions and sub-regions in the decision making process,'' he said while addressing a series of public meetings at Rajouri district.

Lambasting the coalition partners in the state, Mr Abdullah said both the Congress and the PDP led the state to an administrative anarchy and chaos.

'' The coalition government has given unemployment, financial mismanagement, poverty, shamble roads, dry taps, poor health care and crippled education system in state in the name of development,'' the NC president added.

The junior Abdullah, meanwhile, said the first priority of his party would be to take youth out of hopelessness and despair by redressing the unemployment problem.

'' A special package for employment of the youth will be announced while new avenues will also be opened for the young unemployed so that in each household, there is at least one earning hand,'' Mr Abdullah said.

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