Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: About 300 poor labourers residing in temporary huts in Belicharana area of Satwari are facing starvation due to countrywide total lockdown.
Most of these members of the labour class are from UP and Bihar. Some of them deals in handicrafts items and weave mats. Many of them are living along with their families. These hapless poor families who have lost their work after lockdown on March 21, are facing starvation. They were mainly dependent on the daily earnings.
One Haripal, hailing from UP told the Excelsior that there are 11 families in one cluster at BeliCharana near bridge, connecting MH and New road from 4thTawi bridge to Chatha. They are living their for the last 7-8 years and make mats and other handicraft items. He said they have no means of living. It has been learnt that Govt is helping poor families but till today, nobody from Administration ever reached up to them.
Another labourer Sanjay Kumar said about ten days ago, two cops from Satwari Thana had come to write names but no assistance has been provided to them. Haripal said about a week back, a middle aged Sikh youth along with another youth came there and provided 2 kg rice to each family. Thereafter no body has ever provided any help to them.
Labourer Pawan Kumar from Utter Pradesh and Arshad from Bihar, residing in the adjoining cluster near expansion portion of Jammu airport, said there will be around 300 souls in three clusters. One cluster was provided 5 kg Atta, about 8 days ago. But most of their families were left out, telling that they will come again, but nobody later came. They said most of these labourers are working on expansion of airport. They are working under private contractors. Since entire work has been stopped the contractor has also gone. He provided just 2 kg ration before leaving about 15 days ago. But it is not possible to feed themselves and the families with this meagre ration, they added.
They further said that Govt of India is sending huge money and ration for the poor people and many people are also donating to the PM Relief Fund but they are unable to get any assistance from the Government. They appealed for the help to DC Jammu and the J&K UT Administration.
SDM Jammu South, Srikant Balasaheb when contacted said he had no information about the non-delivery of ration in this particular area. But maintained that majority of the areas falling under him have been covered by the Revenue teams. He, however, said that he would verify from the concerned field staff and deliver the ration in this area if it is left out.
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