Saturday, July 29 2006 13:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: President A P J Abdul Kalam yesterday (July 28, 2006) suggested a nine-point developmental plan for militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir, including a people's movement to eliminate terrorism and the creation of an economic zone along the Line of Control.

In his maiden address to the state assembly here, Kalam said citizens must be allowed to participate in large numbers in the movement to curb terrorism and the government should authorise law enforcement agencies to adopt a mission mode approach to make the state free from militants.

"Citizens who wish to cooperate in the peace mission msut be provided special security," he said, suggesting the introduction of National ID cards for all government and business dealings as well as special monitoring mechanisms for unusual and abnormal banking transactions.

"The judiciary must consider the creation of a fast judicial process for settling terrorism-related cases," he said.

Advocating the setting up of an economic zone at the LoC, Kalam said, "The state government may consider allotting the land on lease basis in consultation with the Army for horticulture and agriculture utilisation. Once the people participate in the development of the land, they themselves will oppose intervention from wrong elements."

He added that there is also a need to provide special security in this zone.

Earlier, Kalam was accorded a welcome by Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and state ministers when he arrived at the airport here from Leh.

In an apparent reference to Kashmiri Pandit migrants, Kalam said a 'conducive environment' should be created fo r all Kashmiris who had left the state to return and contribute to its growth.

"Schools and colleges should promote value-based education right from primary education," said Kalam, adding the Central and state governments could consider a two-year mandatory stint with the NCC for all students to promote discipline among them.

Kalam listed horticulture at the top of his nine-point agenda, saying it could generate revenues of Rs 15,200 crore a year against the existing Rs 2,000 crore and benefit 7.8 lakh families.

"The other areas where Kashmir could go ahead in a 'mission mode' include education and entrepreneurship, developing global human resource cadre, healthcare, infrastructure development, tourism, and introduction of e-governance," he said.

"I believe that the nine missions, which I have described today, can be the foundation for the mission of Jammu and Kashmir's prosperity. I would suggest that the mission of legislators cutting across all political affiliations must be to bring peace and prosperity to 10 million people of the state," Kalam said.

He wished the lawmakers and people success in the mission to transform Kashmir into a developed state by 2015.

Earlier, in Leh, Kalam inaugurated the 2,550th Buddha Jayanti celebrations at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre and a residential school for the visually impaired.