Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal Additional General Secretary National Conference accompanied by Rattan Lal Gupta State Vice-President, Dhian Chand District President NC Kathua, Sheikh Basher Ahmad Provincial Secretary, Mohd Farooq Mughal PRO to Dr. Kamaal, Satwant Kour Dogra, Panches & Sarpanches addressed locals at Dassiya near Rattanpur Sarara in Hiranagar Tehsil, Kathua today. The locals gave details of problems confronting them through Dhian Chand & Dharampal Kundal and Abdul Rashid Khatana Panch. This includes non-issuance of permanent resident certificate, BPL ration cards reportedly only four eligible per panchayat ward, no Anganwari Centre in the area, upgrading of Primary School existing since 20 years, the failed tube well at Dhaki and a demand for a fresh one to meet the drinking water shortage from the 1996 tube well at Rattanpur Sarara, construction of Rattanpur Sarara to Devsthal Goran 7 kms road. They also raised the issue of compensation of firing range death of 137 humans of area since fifteen years.
According to statement issued to KNS, Rattan Lal Gupta in his address gave the achievements of the Omar Abdullah lead coalition government especially holding of successful Panchayat Elections and giving them powers connected with 14 vital Govt. Department which will transform the rural and backward pockets of the state for the better. He also gave details of laws passed like the public services guarantee act, which will enable them to obtain important documents like PRC, Ration Card, electric connection etc. in a time bound manner.Sheikh Basher Ahmad in his address asked the people to maintain close liaison with NC party at the local, district and Provincial level to get their problems resolved by the Govt. and appealed them to cooperate with the Govt. & strengthen NC further.In the end, Dr. Kamaal made a fervent appeal to the people especially the local Bakarwals & the schedule caste communities to ensure their children take education seriously & make it to atleast matriculation so that benefit of reservation of 8% Govt. jobs is utilized by them which presently they are not doing. He also assured them that he would take up the issue of re-drawing the boundaries of forest enclosures in view of the increase in human and animal population & receding forest cover and shrinking khah charai area so that they continue to sustain themselves and their cattle that is an important part of our economy.
He also assured them that grazing permission from 131 and 132 would be made hassle free and streamlined to eliminate harassment at places. He also assured to plead with the Govt. for their permanent settlement by giving them ownership rights of a few marlas per family to end uncertainty gripping them since long. Lastly, Kamaal reiterated the commitment of NC not to rest till progress and prosperity reaches all sections of society as enshrined in the NAYA KASHMIR manifesto of NC enunciated by our founding fathers at Sopore convention in 1944 under the dynamic & visionary leadership of Sher-e-Kashmir. He complimented the people for adhering to the rich tradition & lofty ideals of secularism and social harmony so dear to our founding fathers and bedrock of NC agenda of socialism, democracy and amity.Others present include Suraj Prakash Verma, Dharam Singh, Satpal Singh, Kishorji, and Shamsher Singh.