Pro. J. D. Agarwal ,Chairman & Director , India Institute of Finence, has welcomed the Prime Minister's economic package of rs 6,125 crores for the peoole of the strife-riden state of J& K ,it will boost growth amd gemerate employment besides helping develop the approprites infrastructure as also the much needed road and rail links with the rest of the country .Prof. Agrarwal particulary appreciate that the project under the package were time-bound and would therefore yield immense benefits withi a fixed time.

The package announced by Mr. A. B. Vijpayee includes funding of the state urban infrastructre, revival of the ages-old handicraft and serocilture industry, technological mission on horticulture, eco- restoration of the eroded encatchment areas of the rivers and develpoments of roads in the Ladaks region.

Mr. Vajpayee has also show ample concern for the Kashmir migrant panits, the border migrants and the police personnel fighting militancy in the regopn by alloting Rs 26 crors for raising the India rescuer police battalion.

Dr. Agarwal feels the econmic package is an excellent growth-oriented strategy with a human face. He lamented its criticism from certain quarters on absolutely superflous and flimsy ground. All that is needed now is the expeditious implementation of te package so that economic prosperity starts folling in the state, he added.

Dr. Agarwal, however, warnd that the financial sops distributed keping in view the welfare-oriented schemes with consumption orientation could be counter-productive. Creative financial solution and peoples' participation were need to handle and terrorism. The package has the approprite blend of investement orientaiton adn welfare bias incorporating tjhe short-term and long-term strate he added.

Press Secrettary Indian Institute of Finance