Excelsior Correspondent
KULGAM, Dec 12: While expressing serious concern over rising unemployment, power scarcity, corruption and unabated killings/arrests in Kashmir, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today demanded one-time exemption of KCC loan to the small farmers and fruit growers whose crops was damaged due to recent snowfall.
Addressing workers convention at Kulgam today, ex-MLA said the announced scale of relief under “state-specific special natural calamity” for damaged orchards due to snowfall is quite inadequate given the quantum of destruction. Besides, the huge damage to the present crop, the snowfall caused massive damage to fruit trees. Millions of trees have been damaged due to the snowfall and the mainstay of the Kashmir economy – horticulture – is in shambles. Even the announced meagre relief has not been disbursed among the victims though almost one and half months have passed.
The need is to announce one-time exemption of KCC loan to the small farmers and fruit growers whose harvest was damaged by the snowfall, besides the implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) in the State. Though the announcement of the crop insurance scheme was made by the Government, it is unfortunate that the said scheme has not implemented in Kashmir so far.
He said no policy has been framed to tackle the issue of unemployment. Thousands of cases regarding payment of monthly financial assistance under various social welfare schemes were pending in every district. The weaker and poorer sections of the society have been totally neglected which has severely hit their means of livelihood. The welfare schemes for old aged, destitutes and other weaker sections are virtually lying defunct.
Corruption has rendered the system defunct in Jammu and Kashmir. It has spread its tentacles everywhere despite tall claims of the successive Governments that it will leave no stone unturned to eradicate it. System has become defunct and Government is insensitive to the woes of common people. Inflation is so high that for a common man purchasing essential commodities from the market has become difficult. There is no accountability on price control as Government is nowhere, Tarigami added.
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