J&K Assembly Budget Session: PDP to raise bills on employment, drug control, land rights: Para

Srinagar, Feb 24: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para on Monday said his party will raise three bills in the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Speaking on the instructions of party chief Mehbooba Mufti, Para, who is the MLA from Pulwama, said these bills address critical public issues. He urged all political parties to support them beyond party lines.
The first bill, Para said, focuses on the regularisation of daily wagers, casual labourers and need-based workers. “Thousands of workers have been serving for years without job security, and this bill aims to grant them permanent status and financial stability,” he said.
The second bill addresses the growing concerns of alcohol and drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. The PDP leader underscored the rising issue of substance abuse among the youth, leading to addiction and depression. “There is a need for stricter regulations on alcohol consumption in public places, given the region’s tourism-based economy,” he said.
The third bill aims to curb the “bulldozer rule” and secure land rights for residents, the MLA said. He criticised the ongoing demolition drives that have rendered many families homeless. “The right to shelter is fundamental and the bill seeks to prevent arbitrary evictions from state land, grasslands and traditional community-owned properties,” he said.
Appealing for collective support, Para urged all political parties, including the National Conference and others, to rise above party affiliations and back these bills. “Employment, substance abuse control, and land security are matters of public concern that require unified action,” he said.