Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 16: Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) State vice president Advocate Vibodh Gupta today met Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (MoS) in Prime Minister Office (PMO) and highlighted the plights being faced by the people in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Vibodh apprised Dr Singh that Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals communities were exploited by the previous Governments for their political benefits. These communities are living in tough terrain and under extreme conditions and they need special attention of Central Government for their development, Gupta added.
He also submitted a memorandum of demands and requested Dr Singh to declare Rajouri and Poonch districts as backward areas and a special package be announced for the overall development of these districts.
Vibodh informed MoS that the people of these districts were the worst sufferer when militancy was at its peak in the State. Some families which were migrated during militancy from their native villages are not given recognition as migrants till date, he said, adding that Central Government must provide relief to these families at par with Kashmiri migrants.
Moreover, the people living near LoC have to migrate when tension mounted across the borders and they also suffered huge losses in term of damage to their crops during cross-border firing, which was seen as a routine affair in last few years.
He added that Pir Panchal region has a tremendous tourism potential but due to the deteriorating conditions of roads, the tourists are not attracted.
He requested Dr Singh for the early restoration of railways project which was earlier shelved by the previous Government and sanctioning of four-lane road from Jammu to Poonch and to Mughal Road.
“Central Government should consider these projects as most urgent which would further boost the tourism sector in the districts and in turn reduce the unemployment problem”, Vibodh stressed.
He also demanded for increasing the monthly honorarium of SPOs from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7500 and special recruitment drive for the local youth.
Giving a patient hearing to the demands raised by Vibodh, Dr Jatinder Singh assured him that the development of J&K is the top agenda of Central Government and special focus will be given to the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
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