Jammu, Nov 19: Girdhari Lal Raina, former Member of the Legislative Council and spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu & Kashmir, on Tuesday raised concerns over the continued delays in extending benefits of welfare schemes to eligible displaced farmers from the Jammu and Kashmir Displaced Community. He called on the government to eliminate official indifference and ensure that displaced farmers receive the support they are entitled to.
Raina in a statement issued here welcomed the recent announcement by the Director of Agriculture, in coordination with the Office of the Relief & Rehabilitation Commissioner (M), Jammu, to organise awareness camps aimed at informing eligible migrant farmers about benefits under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme, as well as other centrally sponsored initiatives like the Horticulture Development Programme (HADP), Jammu & Kashmir Crop Insurance Programme (JKCIP), and various Farmer Welfare Schemes.
While acknowledging the government’s decision to move forward with these awareness camps, the former MLC expressed disappointment over the delays in initiating the schedule. He highlighted the ongoing struggles of the displaced community, which has long been seeking the delivery of welfare benefits at various levels of government, often with little success. “The benefits of these welfare schemes continue to be a distant dream for the displaced families,” Raina said.
He expressed frustration at what he termed the administration’s “apathetic” approach. He criticised the “arbitrary” use of district-based residency as a reason for denial of benefits, labelling it a “new discovery” that officials seem to use as an excuse to block legitimate claims.
Raina also expressed concerns about the diversion of welfare benefits by encroachers who he said have illegally occupied land and orchards belonging to the displaced community. “Such encroachment must be prevented, and the actual beneficiaries should not be deprived of their rightful share,” he said.
