Senior Congress Leader and third time MLA from Inderwal has demanded early clear of liability of Rs 48 crores under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) job card holders from district Doda and Kishtwar.Saroori said several political leaders, Panchayat body has repeated demanded for release of wages but falling on deaf ears. He said voters elected BJP with great hopes of development, but within a few months, the party has shown its real face by taking anti-people stand such as weakening of MGNREGA and giving huge tax concessions to industrial houses.
He said i (Saroori) am not demanding any development grant, but MGNREGA job card holder rightful money. He has warned the Centre government, rural development department that in case of further delay in the payment of liability, wages he along with thousands of Job card holders will start agitation.Saroori also blamed the state Finance department and saying that the government already had around Rs 117 crores balance regarding MGNREGA work and despite that, the delay was a cruel joke with people who were living hand-to-mouth and had been provided livelihood security through MGNREGA by the UPA government at the Centre.
"The state finance department has snatched the means of survival from families of poor workers," added Saroori and had sought the intervention of J&K Governor, N. N. Vohra for immediate clearing the liability of Erstwhile Doda which is around Rs 48 crores, failing which an agitation would be launched.Later Saroori visited Government Medical College (GMC) and Hospital to enquire about the health of various patients from Erstwhile Doda district who are suffering from various diseases.Saroori interacted with the patients at GMC&H and assured them all help. He also enquired about the status of patients and instructed the Hospital authorities and Doctors to provide every required medical facility to the patients so that they do not feel any inconvenience.