Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today called on Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde here today and discussed overall situation in the State. He also held deliberations on functioning of the Coalition Government.
The Deputy Chief Minister raised issues pertaining to refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 besides discussing situation of Kashmiri migrants.
During the interaction with the Home Minister, Tara Chand discussed problem of people living in border areas due to presence of mines laid during the Kargil intrusion.
The Deputy Chief Minister requested for intervention of the Home Minister in getting the mines removed, adding that people of the area have not been able to cultivate the land and eventually have suffered huge financial losses. He said removal of mines would make the resumption of cultivation in the areas possible thus providing relief to the poor farming community living in the areas adjoining border.
Tara Chand also requested that due compensation should be paid to the farmers to make good the losses suffered due to non cultivation of their lands in border areas.
Shinde gave patient hearing and assured Tara Chand that he will take up the matters with the Defense Ministry for early removal of mines and compensating the farmers.
Later, the Deputy Chief Minister also called on Union Human Resource Minister M. M. Pallam Raju and briefed him about the activities of Education Department in the State.
During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister vigorously pleaded for dispensation of funding to the education sector in the State on the pattern of north-eastern States which is 90% grant and 10 % loan. He emphasized that because of the hostile terrain and difficult topography of the J&K, the construction cost tends to be on higher side as compared to other States and requested for consideration of upward revision in funding to strengthen the school infrastructure.
Tara Chand requested for early release of second installment of funds under RMSA and SSA, so that salaries of the teachers which have been withheld for last many months and other payments could be disbursed.
Pallam Raju stated that the State Government should come up with an area specific comprehensive proposal so that the revision of construction cost could be examined. He assured the Deputy Chief Minister of favorable consideration in the matter.
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