Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 23: Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that Central Government is seriously working to ameliorate the lot of PoJK refugees, border people who have suffered an immense loss due to shelling from across besides rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants leading an exiled life for last 26 years.
Responding to a demand put forth before him during the inauguration of Jodh bridge on Akhnoor-Pallanwala road 40 kms from here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Union Government is committed to settle the problems of PoJK refugees and the proposal is under active consideration of it.
Allaying the fears of these refugees he said they suffered a lot since their displacement from PoJK but their long wait will be over as Union Government is seriously considering lasting proposals for settling their long standing issues.
Referring the problems of border people who suffered immense loss due to firing from across the border over the years, Dr Jitendra Singh said that he has taken up the issue of hiking the compensation for those killed and injured in border shelling as well as for the crops damaged and cattle killed in shelling with Union Home Minister, Raj Nath Singh recently. It is under his active consideration and some tangible will materialize soon, he added.
Besides the pucca bunkers along International Border will be constructed soon as the Central Government has given its nod to it. Moreover, the absorption of local border youth in Army and para military forces which has also been taken up by him with the concerned Ministers is under the active consideration of the Union Government, he added.
Dr Singh said the safe and dignified return of Kashmiri migrants leading an exiled life for last 26 years now is also high on the agenda of NDA Government led by Narendra Modi.
He said various modalities and options are under consideration of Union Government in this regard and final decision will be taken after taking the community representatives into consideration.
Dr Singh congratulated the BRO for constructing the Jodh bridge and said Army is not only active during the war time but also during peace it is rendering yeoman’s services to the society.
He said the credit for commissioning this bridge much more well before the scheduled date and time goes to Union Government led by Narendra Modi also. This bridge as per schedule was to be completed in March 2016 but it was completed six months before that due to proactive approach of the Government. “When there is such a proactive approach in execution of works no work will get delayed but will be completed well before the schedule”, he added.
The Union Government extended every sort of support to BRO in completion of the bridge much before the scheduled time and date, he said.
While lauding the role of Indian forces, he said Indian Army has a peculiarity that they are very active during the war but in the peace they discharge added responsibility towards society like construction of bridges, schools, hospitals and taking various developmental projects in hand under Sadhbavna programme.
Dr Singh said that Modi Government has kept the backward states development in its priority and it is paying special attention towards them.
For the development of J&K the Union Minister of road connectivity Nitin Gadkari visited J&K for four times and announced Rs 4000 crore for road connectivity. He also laid the foundation of Inter-State Kridyan Gandyal bridge in Kathua district and PMGSY scheme launched during the time of former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee have been re-launched as the scheme was abandoned during UPA’s rule.
He said India’s biggest corridor from Katra to Delhi via Amritsar (Punjab) will be constructed soon. This will shorten the distance from J&K to Delhi, besides boost tourism, he added.
Maintaining that the objective of NDA Government is to accelerate the process of development in the country, he said Modi led Government has launched many productive schemes for the civilians.
He highlighted various yojnas launched by PM like Jan Dhan Yojna and PM’s Bhima Yojna. The poorest of poor can have an open account with zero balance and have an ATM also. He said last 25 years the Army gave lot of cooperation to civil administration in the developmental field and many civil works have been executed by Army. This way the Army’s human face is coming to fore, he added.
Dr Singh said nation is indebted to Army for their contribution whether in war or peace.
Earlier, Rajiv Sharma MLA Akhnoor complimented BRO for construction of the bridge. He also demanded construction of Johrian -Pargwal bridge and Steel bridge at Akhnoor. Besides, he stressed on the settlement of problems of PoJK, West Pak refugees and border people. He also demanded launching of recruitment drive for border people in Army and para military forces.
MLA Khour, Dr Krishan Lal termed the bridge a new milestone in the progress of the area. This will connect about 40 border villages with rest of the State, he added. Vimal Goswami Commander BRTF said that it is an important bridge as it will relieve the problems of the people during rains and Monsoon. He said work of Rs 20 crore bridge was started in the year 2011 and it was completed 10 days back by 57 RCC (GREF) under the command of Major Gurkirpal Singh. The 453 span bridge which is Multi Cell Bar bridge will remain open for traffic round the clock throughout year, he added.
Bishwajit Battacharya CE BRO also spoke on the occasion.
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