Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 15: Virtually lying in deep slumber for the last over 48 years, the J&K Social Welfare Department (SWD) finally woke up to claim its 13 kanal land which has been allegedly encroached upon by the Education Department in Jammu city after the Government asked Directorate to vacate Working Women Hostel which is under its possession for the last about ten years.
Well placed sources told the Excelsior that as per record, this land measuring 13 kanal and 3 marla under, Khasra No. 281, 282 and 283 was purchased by the Department of Social Welfare from one Ram Nath Lakra and Romesh Lakra, under Halqa Patoli Brahmana, where now Govt Girls Higher Secondary School is located near Govt Commerce College, Canal Road, Jammu. This land was purchased on 22-01-1966 for Rs 17,125 and the registry & `Inteqal’ was entered in the name of Director Social Welfare Jammu.
Actually this total land was 17 Kanal and as per `Inteqal’, it is only 13 kanal and 3 marla which belonged to SWD. The Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu in a letter No. DSWJ/ Estt/20819-22/14 dated 22-09-2014, flashed to Deputy Commissioner jammu Ajit Kumar Sahu has requested for demarcation of the said land of the department. The relevant revenue record has also been provided to the DDC and a copy of which was also managed by the Excelsior.
Sources further said that the Secretary to Government Social Welfare Department, M S Rather had directed the Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu to vacate the Working Women Hostel building at Roop Nagar in Jammu about three months back after the news appeared in Excelsior. About four other offices of the same department are functioning there. Interestingly, another office of the ICDS was housed in the same complex recently, despite clear instructions to vacate this entire building complex.
Director Social Welfare Jammu, Mohd Sharief Chouhan when contacted said that for getting department land back from School Education Department the process has been set in motion. He admitted that his predecessors in the department earlier did not take much interest in this exercise but now when Government has asked to vacate this Women Hostel Building, the department intensify exercise to retrieve its land.
Replying to another question, the Director said new office of Mission Director was accommodated for just a few weeks in this complex. They have identified private building and may shift there shortly. He said the Government should provide the land which is now under the possession of School Education Department or provide alternate site or building.
Secretary to Government SWD, M S Rather when asked whether Government intends to vacate the only Working Women Hostel in the State at Jammu and make it functional in near future, he said the Government was very much particular about the functioning of this hostel. He said in this regard, clear instructions have been issued to the Director, SWD Jammu. He was asked to look out for some suitable private accommodation for this office and other allied offices operating from the hostel.
It is pertinent to mention here that Working Women Hostel having three storeys and nearly 40 rooms was constructed with the cost of Rs 1.12 crore at Roop Nagar on Muthi Road in Jammu.The building was inaugurated by the then Social Welfare Minister Mula Ram in 2004-05. The building having capacity of accommodating 120 inmates, was handed over to the State Social Welfare Fepartment by the R&B authorities in 2004. It was highlighted that the women especially from far flung areas like Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Kathua besides other parts of Kashmir and Ladakh, who are working in Jammu have to face lot of problems in terms of accommodation. Such ladies will be accommodated in this hostel as security and safety was the main concern for them. But, just for the sake of saving rent worth lakhs, the department did not vacate the hostel till date.
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