Jammu, May 20: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Raman Bhalla on Saturday expressed anguish over the government’s decision to charge electricity tariff from the Kashmiri Pandits living in migrant camps.
Bhalla on Saturday visited KP Migrants Camp Jagti Nagrota and joined protesting migrants when he came to know that they have been protesting for the last seven days to listen to their grievances, a party statement issued here said, adding that Hira Lal Pandita Chairman, Shadi Lal Pandita Convener, Chuni Lal Raina Kandi General Secretary, Virender Ganjoo General Secretary, Ashok Dhar Secretary, and others were present on the occasion.
“KP Migrants while apprising former ministers of their grievances demanded enhancement of cash relief from Rs 13,000 to Rs 25,000, creation of additional 15,000 jobs for educated unemployed youth, compensation to unemployed over-aged educated KP youth, repair/renovation of all migrant quarters, ensuring regular supply of ration for the migrants, roadmap for rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley as per their wishes, ensuring a proper regular supply of pure drinking water and electricity in all migrant camps in view of coming summer season, implementation of Centrally-sponsored schemes in all KP colonies including camps/non-camps, requisite posting of staff in all migrant camp schools to tide over the shortage and pension schemes for handicapped/old age and other economically backward migrants living in exile for last more than 31 years,” Bhalla said.
They also demanded special scholarship schemes for poor migrant students for boosting their education in order to make them self-reliant, repair/renovation of interior link roads in migrant camps including Jagti township and construction of shops inside newly constructed colonies in Kashmir for rehabilitating uneducated youth, he said.
On the occasion, Bhalla appealed to the government to reconsider the decision and pointed out that the KP camps are not being properly maintained and they suffer other inconveniences like irregular water supply and cleanliness. “I believe a lot more is to be done and I promise you if Congress is elected to power, all the measures will be taken in this regard,” he said.
“Congress feels and understands the pain of this migrant community since they have literally been uprooted by the conflict and forced to migrate from their birthplace. Nothing can compensate the losses that you suffered while leaving your homes,” he said and assured them that Congress will launch various schemes that will benefit the community at large, unlike other parties who visit the township to score political points.
