Jammu, Feb 07: Expressing concern over the non-responsive attitude of the bureaucracy towards the public issues, the Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh today said that the developmental activities have come to stand still in Jammu and Kashmir in absence of an elected Govt.
The Former Minister chaired a meeting of District Jammu Urban leaders, and Incharge President of Wards here at Apni Party Office in Gandhi Nagar in which he reviewed the existing political and developmental situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also reviewed the functioning of the organizational structure and made certain suggestions to make it more effective and set deadlines regarding certain programs.
While addressing the meeting, the Former Minister said that the developmental projects have remained incomplete, and many areas still lack basic amenities.
“The development and increasing unemployment have become the main concern for the people in Jammu and Kashmir, especially the educated youth,” he said, citing various examples how unemployed youth have become drug addicts, and criminal activities have increased that has posed challenges to police and other security agencies.
He said that the administration can work then there is an elected Govt in place, and the officials are held accountable for delaying development, and failing to timely address public grievances.
“The public dealing has declined to a lowest level in Jammu and Kashmir. The situation has arrived where the civilian population hardly go to the Civil Secretariat or district headquarters following the 2019,” he reminded, while expressing pain over the plight of the people who have been rendered without any help, and elected Govt.
He recalled the Civil Secretariat as the symbol of governance, but in the last several years it remains deserted with hardly any presence of the local population.
“The people have lost hope in the present form of Govt, and they demand the holding of elections from Assembly Elections, PRIs, BDC, and Urban Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir so that the confidence of the people can be restored,” he said.
He explained how the people have developed a feeling of alienation from the respective administration and the babus still lack connection with the people.
“The public darbars have become a mockery in the name of addressing public issues especially when the officers/officials fail to address grievances, except few,” he stated.
He further appealed to the Election Commission of India to send a team of officials to assess the ground situation and take a review of the situation so that they can schedule legislative assembly in Jammu and Kashmir as early as possible.
“The statehood is another issue that has been delayed for long in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of unhappiness among the people for the degradation of their historic state into a Union Territory which has no elected Govt,” he stated.
He sought help from the Apni Party leaders and asked them to hold a series of meetings at every nook and corner of their respective areas, and wards to educate people about the developmental policy and programs of the Party.
He also issued certain directions for the improvement of functions and insisted on them to continue public outreach programs.
“The Party leaders should not leave the people in distress when no one is ready to address their issues. The leaders should list the issues and highlight them accordingly in their respective areas for their early redressal,” he added.
