Tara Chand demands RBA category for border residents

Former Deputy CM, Tara Chand, interacting with border residents in Pargwal tehsil of Jammu district.
Former Deputy CM, Tara Chand, interacting with border residents in Pargwal tehsil of Jammu district.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Tara Chand, has urged the Government to declare the area within five kilometers of the International Border (IB) as Reserved Backward Area (RBA).
Tara Chand today visited Pargwal tehsil in Khour constituency to take stock of the situation occurred due to the heavy shelling from across the border and addressed a series of gatherings.
The locals from Pargwal today organized a protest against the Pakistan for targeting the civilian hamlets along the border. They also shouted anti Government slogans alleging that the Government has failed to address their grievances and miseries arisen due to heavy border firing.
While addressing the gathering, the former Deputy CM stressed upon the Government to declare the area within the five kilometers of the International Border (IB) from Khour to Kathua as RBA category to reserve posts in various Government jobs for the border youth. He said that the border residents always remain at the crosshairs of the Pakistani guns and face lot of problems due to frequent ceasefire violations. He also demanded plots at safer places and financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh per family for the residents of Pargwal tehsil.
Alleging that many livestock of the people that sustained injuries due to firing from across the border are lying untreated, the senior Congress leader urged upon the Government to dispatch a team of veterinary doctors to the area so that the animals having splinters inside their bodies can be treated. He also demanded supply of essentials for the people putting up in temporary camps.
Tara Chand said that the education of children of the border area is badly suffering and Government is beholden to make temporary arrangements in the migrant camps to run schools. He urged upon the education authorities to make arrangements to run schools in the migrant camps till the hostilities along border continue.