Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 22 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has said that post-October 31 benefits for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are beyond the imagination of people living there and would be realised, one by one, as things unfold. This is because the people there were deprived of these benefits for all these years and they did not even realise that they were being deprived, he said.
Addressing a BJP public meeting here, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Article 370 had thrown back Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh by several decades. He said, it did not only block the development and growth at par with other parts of the country, but it also created such a subdued public psyche that three generations got conditioned to reconcile and live with their fate, while enormous opportunities were availed by people in the rest of India.
Referring to Union Home Ministry’s announcement of immediate payment of Rs.4,800 crore to government employees as per the 7th Central Pay Commission allowances, Dr Jitendra Singh said, this is just the trailer of much more to unfold in the months to come. In J&K, where a majority of the population is dependent on government sources of income, he said, it is a huge and unbelievable relief to be provided lifelong healthcare cover, allowance for children’s education, allowance for children’s hostel accommodation, allowance for transport, Leave Travel Concession (LTC) etc.
As for the industry and corporate sector, Dr Jitendra Singh said, with the advantage of purchasing land and setting up establishment as well as residential colonies for the workers, there is already enthusiasm among the big houses across the country and even some of the potential investors from overseas. This will open new avenues of livelihood and may also check mass exodus of youth to other parts of the country, particularly from Jammu and Ladakh regions, he said.
While the first instalment of central grant of Rs 20 to 30 lakh each has already reached many of the Panchayats which earlier did not receive even a fraction of this amount, Dr Jitendra Singh said, at the social level, laws like Dowry Act, Child Marriage Act are going to be applicable.
Taking a dig at Congress, National Conference and their allies for maintaining a studied silence on abrogation of Article 370, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the children of the leaders of these political parties are also going to be entitled to the same benefits.
Member of Parliament Hans Raj Hans and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijender Gupta also spoke on the occasion.
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