Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Sep 20: Former Minister and State Secretary of National Conference (NC) Surjeet Singh Slathia today sought special development and employment package for the border areas, saying these under-privileged pockets have peculiar problems and distinct aspirations.
“Having suffered the most, the areas adjacent to International Border need some respite in terms of infrastructural development with focus on utility services”, Slathia said during his extensive visit and interactions with the people of villages Gagore, Gadwal, Kolour, Pakhri, Barota, Kesso, Kamore, Rangoor, Govindgarh, Nanga, Dadyal and Plota of Ramgarh sector in Vijaypur Assembly Constituency.
The former Minister referred to repeated pleas made to the administration during the past few years about accomplishment of various projects and fulfillment of promises made to the people in the wake of shelling from across the border. “These ought to have been respected, keeping in view the volatile situation of years. There should be no complacency and the Government must ensure that the residents feel safe and secured during any eventuality,” he added.
Slathia also expressed anguish and concern over growing unemployment, saying the educated youth besides skilled and unskilled workforce is feeling pushed to the wall. The scenario unfolded by the pandemic has added to their woes and there is a need, as never before, to have a special employment drive and package for the border areas.
The NC State Secretary heard the problems of the people, which related to erratic functioning of the key services like power and drinking water, supply of standard rations at sale-outlets, restoration of road network post monsoon and allied issues. He said the administration should constitute teams of the line departments to take extensive appraisal of the situation for early execution of restoration works.
Prominent among those accompanying Slathia during his visit were district president NC Samba Mohinder Gupta, vice president Vijay Singh, Block president Prem Pal Choudhary, secretary Samba Om Parkash Attri, Sarpanch Rampal Sharma, Mohan Lal Sharma and Baldev Kumar.
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