Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, today visited Nowshera and took stock of arrangements put in place at the relief camps established at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Nowshera for the people affected in cross border firing in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.MLC, Surinder Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director FCS & CA Jammu, R.A Inqalabi besides other senior officers of police and civil administration accompanied the Minister during the visit.It was informed that a total of 1114 people including men, women and children from various border villages including Jhanger, Sarya, Khamba, Makri, and adjoining villages have been shifted at these camps. Besides, special rescue teams were constituted to evacuate and constantly monitor the situation in these areas around the clock.Zulfkar interacted with the affected people and enquired about the facilities being provided to them at these relief camps.
He was apprised of several issues like compensation for damaged crop, waive off farmer loans against crop, immediate requirement of bunkers, special recruitment drives for border youths, permanent piece of land for border people vulnerable to firing and related incidents, availability of veterinary doctors for treatment of injured livestock, etc.He also took stock of damage caused to life, property and agriculture due to shelling from across the border. He expressed solidarity with the shelling affected people assuring full support to them from the government at this hour of crisis.Later, the Minister convened a meeting with civil and police administration of the district and had a detailed information regarding the measures being put in place to provide necessary help to the affected people.Zulfkar appreciated the prompt action taken up by the district administration in providing immediate relief to the firing victims besides saving the life and property of people in this catastrophe like situations.He directed the concerned officers to remain available in the camps to redress the problems of the people and ensure provision of all basic amenities at these camps so that people don’t face any inconvenience on this account. He also enquired about the status of relief to the owners of cattle killed and injured in border firing.