Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 7: In order to provide succor to hapless border people who have been uprooted many times since 1947 due to unprovoked Pakistan shelling and border skirmishes, the Government has announced allotment of five marlas of land to them in safer places within two months.
The announcement to this effect was made by Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh during his visit to border migrants’ shelters in Chann Khatrian and Chadwal in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district today.
He said for remaining border areas the identification of land is in process and Centre is vigorously pursuing the State Government for the same so that this long standing demand is addressed once for all.
As a good will gesture and immediate relief to border people, Dr Singh announced Rs five lakh from his MP Fund for their relief and also issued orders for distribution of 3000 blankets to border people living in shelter homes in Kathua district.
Dr Singh, who was accompanied by the MLAs of Hiranagar and Kathua Assembly Segments, Kuldeep Kumar and Rajiv Jasrotia during the visit said that 3100 kanals of land has been identified for 5000 families at a safer place in Hiranagar tehsil in this regard and Deputy Commissioner Kathua Shahid Iqbal Choudhry has given assurance to complete the process of allotment within two months.
With the allotment of land a long pending demand of hapless border people will be fulfilled. The Union Minister, while expressing his solidarity with border people said that no political party else than BJP can realize the pain and agony of people living on border and LoC as the BJP right from days of Praja Parishad and Jana Sangh has been struggling for their rights. It was the BJP which has raised the demand for allotment of five marlas of land for border people at safer places, he added.
Asserting that 5000 families living near border will be benefited by the decision, Dr Singh said that Union Government led by Narindera Modi is alive to the problems of people living on border and LoC and it will take all steps for their safety and welfare.
He said BJP is duty bound to settle the problems of the people as it is not a party but a movement which has struggled for the people’s cause for last over 60 years. He said BJP representatives both in Parliament and State legislature are answerable to people in whose hands the real power vests.
He also announced that he will take up the issue regarding grant of compensation to Rs 50,000 for injured in border firing and Rs two lakh for dead with Home Minister Rajnath Singh soon after his arrival in Union Capital tomorrow to make it at par with flood victims of the State.
He said Rs five crore which were not distributed among border people as crop compensation due to controversy will also be paid now as the controversy has been sorted out.
The construction of bunkers within houses in which border people can take refuge during the shelling along with their cattle has been taken up with DG BSF and he has agreed to it. This was also a long standing demand of the people, he added.
Dr Singh said that unlike the previous Government BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is giving a befitting reply to Pakistan shelling on border and “we will not yield but teach Pakistan a lesson for its misadventures”, so that it will not dare to resort to such kind of aggression in future.
He said that Government will also take measures for recruitment of border people in para military forces and Army.
He said three villages have been adopted by him for development. They included Sangroli in Samba district and Rs 37 lakh have been provided to DC for the same. The Saddal village in Udhampur district where lot of devastation was created by last year’s floods and landslide has also been adopted by the help of a multinational company and a NGO. This village will be converted into a smart village within 18 months. It will be first of the village in this kind in the State of J&K which will be converted as a smart village as desired by PM Narendra Modi, he added.
Dr Singh said he has also adopted Maloti his native village in Doda district and it will also be developed under Adarsh Gram Yojna.
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