Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 1: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad today conducted an extensive tour of the border areas of Akhnoor, Bishnah and RS Pura to take stock of the problems of the people affected due to cross border firing.
He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister, Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma, Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora, former Minister G. M. Saroori, MLC Jangahir Mir, MLAs Thakur Balwant Singh, Ashok Sharma, R.S.Chib, G.S.Charak other senior leaders of Congress besides Sarpanchs and Panchs.
Mr Azad interacted with the villagers at Chatta Gujral in Pargwal and while responding to the demands of the locals pertaining to providing at least five marlas of land at safer places said that matter will be taken up with the State and Centre Government to ensure safety of the civilians.
He said that the concerned officers will be asked to identify suitable land to accommodate the people of border areas during any emergency. Villagers also demanded adequate compensation for damages to the crops in wake of continuous firing on the border as they are unable to cultivate the ripe crop.
They also demanded that people living on the International Border be given reservation facility in education and employment for the upliflment of the people and to compensate the students for the loss of their studies. They urged for organizing special recruitment drives by army and paramilitary forces for the unemployed youth in the area.
Giving patient hearing to the problems and demands of the people, Mr Azad said that the people living on the borders have shown immense courage and the entire nation stands with them in these troubled times. He said that these people have also stood guardian to our borders and their contributions are significant. He assured them that their demands will be taken up with the concerned quarters at the Center on priority to redress them at the earliest.
Azad said that inspite of various confidence building initiatives by India to restore peace in the region such incidents of unprovoked firing on the border reveal the nefarious designs of the Pakistan army to derail the peace process.
Later, Mr. Azad also visited village Pindi Charkan Kalna in Bishnah where people demanded that although the village is situated on the zero line the village has not been given any special status. They also apprised the Minister of inadequate health care facilities and shortage of medicines in the primary health care centre which cannot cater to any emergency situations.
Villagers also demanded that adequate compensation for the deceased and injured during the firing. Mr. Azad also visited Abdullian in R. S. Pura.
Deputy Chief Minister speaking on the occasion assured the people that their demands will be considered on priority.
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