Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Feb 14: A largely attended meeting of service providers associated with the sacred track of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was held today at Shalimar Park, Katra, under the chairmanship of Bhupender Singh Jamwal, President of the Majdoor Union.
Thousands of mule owners and operators, pithu walas, and palki walas participated in the gathering. Addressing the gathering, Jamwal highlighted that the service provider community has been serving lakhs of pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi for decades with dedication and devotion, and their livelihood is entirely dependent on the pilgrimage track.
Jamwal expressed special appreciation for the relentless efforts of the MLA of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Constituency, Baldev Raj Sharma, who has consistently and forcefully raised the issue of rehabilitation of track workers at every important platform. He stated that Baldev Raj Sharma strongly voiced the concerns of the service providers in the J&K Legislative Assembly and clearly highlighted that the old rehabilitation policy had failed to provide any real benefit to the affected workers and their families.
Jamwal further said that the MLA not only raised the matter in the Assembly but also personally took up the issue with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. In addition, he brought the matter to the attention of the BJP High Command, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, and members of the High-Level Committee constituted to examine issues related to the proposed ropeway project.
The Majdoor Union President stated that due to the persistent and sincere efforts of the MLA, the issue of rehabilitation has now gained serious consideration at the highest levels of governance. He said that the service provider community stands united in support of those leaders who genuinely work for their welfare, security, and long-term future.
While welcoming development initiatives, Jamwal reiterated that development must go hand in hand with justice and livelihood security. The meeting concluded with a strong and collective demand for the immediate formulation and implementation of a new, transparent, and effective rehabilitation policy to safeguard the future of thousands of families dependent on the sacred pilgrimage track.
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