February 14: Coming heavily on the organizers of SARAS Fair 2014, Aam Aadmi Party’s State Spokesperson and member of State Media Coordination Committee, Appu Singh along with Communication Incharge MP Singh on Tuesday demanded compensation for Pashimana artisans of Basholi Kathua from past one decade.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Appu Singh said the huge promotion of SARAS FAIR 2023/ SARAS AJEEVIKA MELA 2023 held no meaning for Rajinder Kumar, who is tied to the apron strings of false promises of the Jammu and Kashmir bureaucracy.
She said That Kumar and his wife Rinku Devi became a part of a ‘Self Help Group’ in village, Mandla as District Rural Development Agency, Kathua helped them with loans and intermittent sale of their pashmina products, as they were well aware of the fact that both of them were impeccable ‘Pashmina Artisans’ from Basholi.
Thr AAP leader said duo participated in SARS Mela 2014. However soon they lost almost hundred and twelve pashmina shawls worth Rs 3,15000 ’ we’re washed away in floods in Kashmir Valley
It pains me to state that all their shawls were washed away in the floods, witnessed by Kashmir valley on the 5th of September 2014 but till.date they have not been provided any compensation and are moving from pillar to post to get their compensation but failed.
The duo has now shot a letter to NCSC (National Commission of Scheduled Castes) while Commissioner Secretary RDD and PR assured that she would consider their representation and do the needful. ” these artisans were always tied to the apron strings of hope and still kept faith in the concerned authorities,” AAP leader said in the statement.
She said the present scenario of the abovementioned artisans is bleak. “Despite of his talent is working as a labourer. Moreover, he was given some work at the ‘Weaving and Training Centre, Handloom, Mandla’, Basholi where he can barely make any money. There is no regular flow of income for his family and they cannot even afford a ‘frugal meal’,” She said while.demanding compensation For them so that trust of such artisans is reinforced and restorer towards the department.
In an emergent conference addressed by Appu Singh, she said that enough damage has been done to the dignity of these artisans. “Till date they haven’t received their compensation of ‘rupees three lakh and fifty one thousand’, which they are legally entitled to.
She requested the Lt Governor and the Jammu and Kashmir bureaucracy to look into the matter and take imperative steps for the same. She also added that the Lt Governor should look into this matter on a humanitarian ground and release the compensation of the above-mentioned artists.
The AAP leader said It will be interesting to note, how the present government will handle these victims of SARAS FAIR 2014. “In faith, that the Lt Governor takes some immediate action in granting the compensation; provides a livelihood to the family and gives meaning to the most important ingredient of mankind called empathy.”
