Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 13: Stepping up his public outreach, JKPCC working president, Raman Bhalla today mounted a scathing critique of the administration, stating that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an unprecedented rise in public distress due to what he termed as “policy paralysis and governance deficit.”
During interactions with various delegations, traders, youth groups, and civil society members in Ward-55 Kunjwani, Bhalla said that unemployment remains the gravest concern, with thousands of educated youth struggling for jobs amid delayed recruitment processes, vacant government posts, and lack of private sector investment. He said the prevailing uncertainty has pushed many young people towards frustration and migration outside the Union Territory.
He further highlighted the worsening inflation scenario, stating that skyrocketing prices of essentials, LPG, electricity tariffs, and fuel have eroded household incomes. He added that daily wagers, pensioners and lower-income groups are the worst affected, as their earnings remain stagnant while expenditures continue to rise.
Raising the issue of farmers and horticulturists, Bhalla said that apart from irrigation and MSP concerns, orchardists are suffering due to poor market linkages, inadequate cold storage facilities, and losses caused by unpredictable weather conditions. He stressed that crop insurance schemes are either ineffective or inaccessible to many farmers, compounding their distress.
The Congress leader drew attention to the plight of daily wagers, casual labourers, and contractual employees, stating that regularization and wage issues remain unresolved. He said thousands of families dependent on such employment are living under financial stress due to delayed salaries and lack of job security.
He flagged serious concerns regarding the education and health sectors, alleging shortage of staff in schools, inadequate infrastructure, and gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and remote areas. He said patients are often forced to travel long distances due to lack of specialized facilities, while Government institutions remain under-equipped.
The meeting was attended by Satish Sharma, JKPCC general secretary, Sanjeev Katal- Block president, Pritam Singh, Satnam Singh, Dr TC Bhagat, Ashwani Singh Chib, Neeraj Kumar, Jeet Raj and others.
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