Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 29: Former Minister and DPN president, Ghulam Hassan Mir, PDF chief and former Minister Hakeem Mohd Yaseen and CPI(M) leader Mohd Yousuf Tarigami (Ex-MLA) have urged upon the State Governor Satya Pal Malik to translate his words into action.
In a joint press statement here today, these leaders expressed that the bold political initiatives, sincere confidence building measures is the only answer to prevailing uncertain situation in the State. They said the new J&K Governor after taking reigns of the State had said that corruption, inefficiency and sluggishness within the system will not be tolerated. However, months down the line, it seems corruption has reached to its peak and delivery on the ground is disappointing.
They pointed out that the situation which was there in the previous PDP-BJP Government is still prevalent with people crying for basic amenities like power, potable water and ration. The power scenario in Kashmir has turned from bad to worse as the PDD has failed to ensure power supply even as per their curtailment schedule. With harsh winter fast approaching, Govt must tackle this situation on priority.
” Unemployment is on rise and no steps are being taken to tackle this menace. As per the Labour Bureau, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, Jammu Kashmir has a very high unemployment rate in entire India and as per a survey conducted by the Bureau in 2015-16, Jammu Kashmir has 72 unemployed persons per thousand, which means the number of unemployed youths in the State is over nine lakh based on 2011 Census,” they added.
While calling for an immediate end to killing spree of civilians, they expressed sympathies with the families of the victims. ” Killing of civilians can never be solution to any problem. Whether a civilian is killed by the bullet from one side or the other side, it is loss of precious human life. Whose cause’ is fulfilled by the killings of civilians? Unfortunately, it is a Kashmiri who is getting killed every day,” they added.
During recent unexpected and untimely snowfall, orchardists in Kashmir suffered huge losses. The announced scale of relief under “state-specific special natural calamity” for damaged orchards is insufficient given the quantum of destruction caused due to the heavy snowfall. They demanded one-time exemption of KCC loan to the small farmers and fruit growers.
The daily-wages/casual labourers, ASHA and Mid-Day Meal scheme workers have been totally neglected. The long pending demands of regularisation of daily-wages/casual labourers have not been met and even their wages are not being paid for months together. They are awaiting their regularization although Government has issued SRO last year which is quite disappointing. The meagre incentives of ASHA and Mid-Day Meal scheme workers have not been paid for months, compounding their miseries.
Expressing serious concern over the pathetic condition of widows, orphans, destitute, handicapped and old-aged people in the State, the leaders sought personal intervention of Governor for release of their long pending pensions.
They said bringing the J&K Bank under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) guidelines and the State Legislature, is a welcome step. However the decision of the SAC to turn the bank into a PSU is unwarranted and must be reconsidered.
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