Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Aug 30: Shri Vaishno Devi Sewa Committee Baridaran (SVDSCB) today observed a black day on 30 years of their ‘exile’ and constitution of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Over a thousand members of Baridaran assembled at Katra main chowk and staged massive protest against State Government and the Shrine Board.
Shouting slogans in support of their long pending demands, the protesting Baridars staged a dharna on the road and blocked vehicular movement for around two hours. Ajay Nanda, MLA Reasi and Minister of State for Finance & Planning, also joined the protesting Baridars and extended support to their demands.
The protesting Baridars were demanding 40 percent reservations in employments in the Shrine Board as per qualification, scholarships to children of Baridars getting education, 10 percent seats for wards of Baridars in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and other educational institutes run by the Shrine Board like Shrine Boards of other Hindu Shrines, new school for children of Baridars at par with central schools.
Addressing the protesters, Sher Singh, president of Shri Vaishno Devi Sewa Committee Baridaran, said that from the last 30 years, Government and Shrine Board were befooling the people, who are Sewadars of Mata Vaishno Devi.
He said that over 30,000 souls of Baridars totally depended upon the offerings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to meet their day to day needs but since the constitution of board all these people are now finding it difficult to meet their both ends. “The Board took over the shrine without compensating the genuine sewadars,” he added.
Alleging corruption and nepotism in the Shrine Board, Sher Singh lamented that members of the Board are treated as VIP at Bhawan while the Baridaran are not even allowed to perform darshan of the deity.
Demanding that at least two members from Baridaran community should be taken in the Board, Sher Singh alleged that the bigwigs from outs side the State secure contract of restaurants, retail outlets in the board while the locals people are denied right of earning livelihood.
Recalling the Prime Minister’s assurance to address the grievances of the erstwhile Baridars, Sher Singh lamented that despite BJP-PDP forming Government in the State the Prime Minister did not fulfill the promise he had made with the erstwhile Baridars of Mata Vaishno Devi. “We would also like to remind the Prime Minister to fullfill his election promise and solve Baridars genuine issue,” he added.
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