CHANDIGARH, JULY 9: In a significant step towards resolving the long-pending issues faced by the mutton dealers, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma on Thursday held a series of meetings with the Punjab Government, resulting in immediate directions for addressing the concerns of the trading community.
The Minister, as per an official statement, held detailed discussions with the Punjab’s Animal and Sheep Husbandry Minister, the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Secretary, Science & Technology and the Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj.
The primary focus of the meetings was to find an immediate and practical resolution to the issues affecting the mutton dealers, which have been causing hardships to the traders and impacting the smooth movement of livestock.
During the marathon deliberations, Satish Sharma strongly projected the concerns of the mutton dealers. He emphasized the need for coordinated action between the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab to facilitate hassle-free movement of livestock while ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Responding positively to the Minister’s intervention, the Punjab Government issued on-the-spot instructions to the concerned departments to take immediate steps for resolving the issues. The decisions taken during the meetings are expected to significantly ease the difficulties being faced by the mutton dealers and ensure smoother coordination between Punjab and J&K.
Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the meetings, Satish Sharma said that safeguarding the interests of traders and ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities remains a priority of the Government. He said the positive response from the Punjab Government reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism and inter-state coordination in resolving issues affecting the livelihoods of thousands of people.
The meetings also featured extensive discussions on strengthening cooperation in the field of animal husbandry. Both sides explored measures to improve livestock management, disease control, scientific breeding practices and veterinary services through greater collaboration and exchange of best practices.
In separate discussions with the senior officials, the Minister also reviewed opportunities for enhanced cooperation in the fields of Science & Technology, innovation, digital governance and research. He stressed the need to leverage technology for improving public service delivery and promoting sustainable development.
The growing menace of drug abuse also figured prominently during the discussions. Satish Sharma held detailed deliberations with the senior Punjab officials on the state’s comprehensive anti-drug strategy, particularly its community-based model involving Village Defence Committees and a dedicated 24×7 monitoring mechanism. He said these initiatives have shown encouraging results and would be examined for suitable adoption in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and protect the youth from the scourge of narcotics.
The Minister thanked the Punjab Government for its prompt response and assured the mutton dealers that the Jammu and Kashmir Government would continue to work closely with all the stakeholders to ensure that their genuine concerns are addressed in a time-bound manner.
