Roshni scheme benefitted land mafia not poor: Tarigami, Harsh

Excelsior  Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: Stressing computerization and digitalization of land records, CPI (M) MLA Mohammed Yousaf Tarigami today said the entire land record should be put online.
Participating in the discussions on annual grants of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry in the Legislative Assembly during second sitting today, he said this is the need of the hour.
Expressing concern over the corruption in the Revenue Department, he said earlier a villager was giving egg or a hen as goose but now he needs money to grease the palms of the Partwaris for seeking the revenue record.
He said the Government should take immediate steps for computerization of records as the time is running short of it and no one knows when elections will be held in the State.
Criticizing the Roshni Act, Tarigami said he had already criticized it and made it clear to Government that this Act will give nothing except darkness. The Government thorough Roshni legalized the illegal possession of land. The big fish were benefited this way while the poor people were ignored, he added. He questioned what benefit the village Chopan and Sheikh who rear the cattle or a barber got as they even don’t get the land for construction of a small hut in a village.
He urged the Government to make a survey and see this for itself. He wanted the Government to disclose that how much revenue it earned out of much talked about Roshni scheme.
Ridiculing the Government claims on migrants dignified return to Valley, Tarigami while referring to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that every CM except you (Mr Omar) made a promise in this regard.
He said the 6000 job package announced by Prime Minister for Migrants was not implemented fully till date.
He while referring to Government’s reply to his cut motion regarding the PM’s job package said that he was replied that out of 6000 posts 3000 stand advertised out of which 1446 migrants were provided jobs. The remaining 1554 posts have been referred to the recruiting agencies again for re- advertisement. However, the process could not be taken to logical conclusion due to orders of High Court.
Tarigami said regarding the other 3000 posts he was informed that a request was made to Government of India to fund these posts as well. But the GoI has intimated the State that the expenditure for the remaining 3000 posts towards employment component of the PM’s package be met by the State Government itself. Since the State Government is not in a position to provide the funds to meet the salary expenditure for these posts the issue was taken up with Centre for funding of these posts again and its decision is still awaited.
In reply to the cut motion the member was also informed by the Minister that package is not only confined to providing of employment but has other components as well which could not be implemented due to the poor response from Kashmiri migrants regarding their return to Valley.
However, Tarigami while expressing his surprise said that when it is the PM’s employment package why the State Government will bear the expenses for remaining 3000 jobs. This too should be borne by Union Government, he added.
Stressing that computerization of land records be given preference, NPP’s Harshdev Singh said this will facilitate work in Revenue Department.
He also stressed on creation of new administrative units.
The MLA said the report of Committee framed for creation of Administrative units be placed in the House. Strongly advocating that Basholi needs a separate district, he said there is need for creation of more tehsils in the State so that administration is taken to people’s door steps.
Highlighting the plight of Pak and PoK refugees, Singh said that Dr Manmohan Singh and I K Gujral who were also  Pak refugees could become Prime Ministers of this nation but the Pak refugees who settled in J&K could not even get citizenship rights.
He urged the Government to act quickly and confer citizenship rights to these refugees. He demanded parity in relief to Kashmiri migrants and Jammu migrants and wanted to make Disaster Management Authority functional in the State.
He said that Udhampur district was ignored in providing the draught relief.
Finding fault in Government’s move to debar construction on agriculture land, he said though protection of agri land is good but how can be a villager deprived of constructing a House in his land without seeking permission from DC. This is violation of his Fundamental Rights, he added.
He said the Government claims on revenue generation that it will earn Rs 25,000 crore for the same which will be spent on power generation proved hollow as it till now has earned only Rs 73 crore.
The scheme benefited land mafia and not poor.
Prof Garu Ram demanded Niabat for border area RS Pura and construction of building for Miransahib Naibat.
Ashok Kumar demanded creation of new tehsils and Niabats and computerization of Revenue records.
G MJ Saroori stressed on overcoming manpower shortage in Revenue Department and completion of settlement. He said the computerization of Revenue record was not possible without settlement.
He said there was shortage of staff in new districts and also stressed preservation of record in Mafiz Khana.
Aijaz Jan demanded enhancement of honorarium for Nambardars and Chowkidars while M S Naiz demanded compensation to the family who lost one person in landslide recently in his constituency.
Jagdish Raj Sapolia said that death and birth records be kept at tehsil level as people were facing problem in visiting DC offices in collection of the same.
Dr Mustafa Kamaal, Master Lal Chand, Bharat Bushan, T Namgyal and Krishan Chander Bhagat participated in the debate.