Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, today laid foundation stone for Gujjar-Bakerwal Girls Hostel at Balli village to be executed by J&K Housing Board with an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 crore.Member Legislative Assembly, Pawan Gupta, was also present on the occasion.Zulfkar, after laying foundation for the building, said that this hostel will have all the modern facilities including sports and recreation activities for the female wards of Tribal community within the campus so that they could compete with the children of all other modern and reputed schools.Terming education as an effective instrument in growth and development of society, the Minister said that tribal and other under privileged communities need special attention and focus in this regard. “The Government is making earnest efforts to encourage and promote education among tribal youth to enable them improve their socio-economic standards and lead a dignified life”, maintained the Minister while conveying present dispensation’s commitment in this regard.
Appreciating MLA’s demand of constructing Girls Hostel at Udhampur, the Minister said that this will facilitate education of about 100 girls by providing them free lodging, boarding, uniforms and books.Meanwhile, various deputations called on the Minister and apprised him of their grievances seeking an early redressal to the same.Zulfkar assured the deputationists that all their issues would be looked into and presented before the concerned so that necessary action is initiated on this account.Pawan Gupta expressed his gratitude to the Minister for the Gujjar-Bakerwal Girls Hostel which will provide an opportunity to the girl students living in far flung areas to continue their education. He said that it is his moral duty to work for redressal of public grievances and development of his constituency for which people have given him mandate.Among others Director FCS &CA, R A Inqallabi, Director Tribal Affairs Mohammad Rafi, Secretary Advisory Board Mukhtar Ahmad, Joint Controller LMD, ADDC Arvind Sharma, SSP Rayees Bhat, ACR Subhash Dogra, ACD, GM DIC, CMO and CEO were present on the occasion.