Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: Continuing the distribution of ration and other essential items among needy people. Former Minister and senior Congress leader, Raman Bhalla said that he has urged the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma to properly monitor the distribution of ration by entrusting teams to do the needful and ensure that help is provided to genuine families living in the slums.
He continued distributing ration and other necessary items among needy and poor families of Gandhi Nagar constituency at Bahu Fort, Masha Mohalla and Press Morh.
Those who accompanied Bhalla included Diwan Chand, Chman Lal, Babli Madam Tara Chand, Gharu Ram, Mulakh Raj, Bunty Pardhan, Pintu Kumar, Sahil Salhotra, Dev Raj, Jarnail Singh, Puran Chand and Karam Chand.
Bhalla said he has already brought vulnerable areas into the kind notice of Divisional Commissioner which needs immediate relief amidst lockdown.
He said, the Jammu Municipal Corporation should undertake spraying and fogging in all the areas in coordination with Fire & Emergency Services, Jammu falling within JMC limits as per a roster on daily-basis to stop spread of COVID-19 and also to maintain proper sanitation and hygiene.
Former Minister appealed LG to provide free ration immediately to people in J&K, including those who do not have access to Aadhaar and ration cards amid the nationwide lockdown.
He urged that people should also be provided pulses, oil, salt, sugar and soap.
Bhalla urged LG to provide free ration to slum dwellers and demanded waiver on electricity bills and municipal taxes for residential properties.
He requested the Government of J&K to provide a basic relief package that will not put a lot of burden on the Government but will provide huge relief to the distressed people.
“Private companies may be asked to contribute CSR for this. Given the urgency of providing income support to the rural poor, due to the lost wages, the government should consider immediate advance payment of wages for 21 days to registered and active MGNREGA workers,” Bhalla said.
He further said while a shutdown was necessary keeping the rising positive cases in mind, it pushed lakhs of migrant and daily wage workers across the country out of job in one stroke, adding with no money in hand and no hope for work for another few weeks, migrant and daily wage workers started going back to their native places.
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