Legislators seek hike in CDF, power amnesty
Bring reforms in PSC, SRB: Riaz
Vikas Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 20: Cutting across party lines, several legislators in Legislative Assembly today reiterated their demand for increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of the MLAs and one time power amnesty to domestic consumers.
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Speaking during grants pertaining to General Administr-ation Department, Finance, Housing, Power Development, Tourism, Revenue, Law, Disaster Management, Hospitality & Protocol, Civil Aviation, Culture, Estates, Information and Planning departments, the charge of which is held by the Chief Minister, most of the MLAs including those from BJP and the National Conference raised their demand for raising CDF and power amnesty for the poor and marginalized sections of the society.
Meanwhile, MLA Mohd Yousuf Tarigami demanded implementation of SRO-17 and asked the government to insure minimum wages to Daily Wagers at par with the centre slab.
Raising the issue of extension to Vice Chancellors of Universities in J&K, Tarigami said universities are becoming an event management programme.
He also drew attention towards the Kashmiri Youth languished in jails outside the J&K UT and urged the government to convey members concerned in this regard at an appropriate level.
Tarigami also emphasized that the J&K Government should be compensated for the losses due to Indus Water Treaty.
The MLA demanded that the Kashmiri language be recognized as classical language.
He also suggested that the Ministers should be made accountable like officers.
MLA Sajjad Shaheen demanded development of the tourist spots in his constituency. He said that his constituency has a good tourist potential.
Mentioning the name of some tourist spots, he said, Ghoda Gali is best place to be developed as heritage place, Chenab for water rafting and Dagan top is a good place for tourists.
BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia raised the issue of regularization of Daily Wagers and said that the formation of committee by the CM for regularizing them is nothing but only a delay tactics.
He said, “The government has all the information regarding the financial implications. If the CM desires, this issue can be done by the single strike of pen.”
He also raised the issue of Bani-Basholi-Dhar Road project.
MLA Ghulam Mohiddin Mir also raised the issues which are being faced by the people of his constituency.
MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan from Thannamandi said, “It is very important that the CDF of the legislators be hiked, so that we have adequate funds at the Deputy Commissioners’ disposal to address the grievances of the people in our constituencies.”
“There is no need for tendering for the projects, with a cost of less than Rs 3 Lakhs. It is our right and Government must give us our rights, so that we can use our funds as per the demands as well as the need of people,” he said.
Alleging discrimination with the people of his constituency, the MLA said, “Our old Jammu and Kashmir was better than the dream of making a New Jammu and Kashmir. We need our old Jammu and Kashmir of prior August 5, 2019”.
He emphasized more reforms in the Power and Revenue departments.
BJP MLA from Ramgarh, D K Manyal demanded regularization of NHM employees, who are waiting since 2005.
Manyal said, “There is a dire need to chalk out a regularization mechanism for the employees including doctors, para-medical and management staff working under National Health Mission in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government should constitute a committee for their regularization at the earliest.”
Raising the issue of renaming the schools and colleges on the name of Martyrs, Manyal said, “Many schools and Colleges were renamed on the name of Martyrs in Jammu and Kashmir, yet many files are pending before the Government, which are awaiting clearance.”
He also demanded some projects for the tourist promotion in his constituency.
MLA Dr Narinder Singh emphasized for corruption free and accountable Government.
He said, “The people have given mandate to us to raise and solve their issues. So it is our duty to work for the development of our people as well for our constituency.”
Singh also demanded to constitute a Refugee Board, so that the issues which are being faced by the refugees, should be addressed on time.
The MLA strongly condemned the members for supporting “terrorism” and “separatism”.
He said, “supporting the terrorism and separatism by some members in the House is a matter of shame for us. We must stay away from using these words and maintain the dignity of this House.”
MLA Riaz Ahmed sought reforms in the PSC and SRB on the pattern of UPSC and SSRB.
He said, “Despite huge unemployment in our J&K UT, these departments failed to advertise the posts on time. Moreover they also failed to declare the results on time, due to which thousands of candidates have to wait for years to get their selections.”
Emphasizing more reforms in the Revenue Department, the MLA said, “There is a need to make a land bank, in which there should be record that which land can be used for the housing purpose and which land is to be used for the farming.”
He demanded the modernization of Pattan constituency on the modern lines.
MLA Shabbir Ahmed stressed the Government to frame a migrant policy for the Muslim migrants, who are getting no financial support like the Kashmiri migrants.
“There are around 1250 Muslim migrant families, who failed to get any financial package from the Government. When the Government is providing adequate financial support to other migrants, then why the Muslim migrants are being ignored,” he questioned.
MLA Choudhary Akram also demanded a hike in the CDF and power amnesty scheme for the people of his constituency.
He said, “While the Government has announced many new guidelines to use the CDFs, but when any member needs emergency funds, then from where we will get them to help the people of our constituencies.”
He further urged the Government to increase the CDF of the MLAs.
The MLA alleged discrimination with the people of Poonch and Rajouri and said, “As being a constituency on the border belt, we failed to get attention of the Government in getting the development works in our constituency.”
MLA Sharifuddin Shariq sought the attention of CM Omar Abdullah for promoting the tourism destinations in his constituency.
He emphasized the urgent need for improvements in Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector and tourism potential.
The MLA raised concerns over the slow pace of infrastructure development in his constituency, particularly in the power and tourism sectors.
He also highlighted the untapped hydroelectric potential in the region.
The MLA said, “Doodh Pathri and Tosamaidan are famous tourist destinations, but both these destinations are being ignored. There is a huge tourism potential in my constituency. So the Government should start some projects for tourism promotion.”
MLAs Hilal Akbar Lone and Mehraj Malik also raised the issues which are being faced by the people of their constituencies.
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