Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 8: Member Parliament –Jammu-Poonch Constituency, Madan Lal Sharma today met with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and demanded a special package for the people residing on international borders and LoC in J&K.
Sharma said that people living in the radius between 8 to 10 kms should be declared as backward and given benefit under RBA category. He also pitched for insurance cover to life, property, crop and cattle of the Border people and enhancement of compensation to victims of Border shelling/firing from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh as is given to the victims of militancy in the State.
The discrimination between Border and militancy victims is very unfortunate, added Sharma. He also demanded that funds under Border Area Development Programme should be enhanced 3 times as compared to the existing so that BADP can actually benefit the Border people. He also demanded the enhancement in rent of the land acquired by Army on Borders.
The MP also strongly voiced for shifting of Border fence to zero point for developing a strong security grid for villagers and the Army. He lauded the role of Army and BSF on the Borders and complimented them for helping people under operation ‘Sadhbhavana’.
Sharma also demanded one time settlement of all issues related to refugees of 1947, 1965, 1971 and West Pak. He demanded that ownership rights on land be given to the refugees of 1965 and 1971. He also pressed for the early conduct of Urban local bodies and Block development council elections.
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