LG Administration intentionally neglecting Nomads: Rattan Lal Gupta
Seeks adequate compensation for Nomad Communities for their losses.
KALAKOTE, May 11: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Jammu raised serious concern over heavy losses being suffered by nomad community due to the causalities of their livestock in unseasonal snowfall, rain and thunderstorm in the area of Pir Panjal while they were shifting their cattle and livestock to their summer shelters.
Mr Gupta stated this while a deputation of Gujjar and Bakerwals headed by their DDC Member Kalakote Smt Anita Thakur, Th. Yashu Vardhan Singh Incharge Sunderbani Kalakote Constituency and Additional Spokesperson Jammu and Mohd Sadiq, District President ST Cell (JKNC) Rajouri Rural who informed Mr Gupta that nomad community suffered heavy losses of their livestock due to heavy snowfall at higher reaches of Pir Panjal area while they were shifting from their winter shelters to higher reaches of summer shelters. They regretted that the LG Administration did not bother to initiate measures for assessing their losses suffered by them in order to provide them some succour. They lamented that not even a single penny has been paid to the victims by way of ex-gratia or compensation till date.
After hearing the tale of woes of the nomads Mr Rattan Lal Gupta stressed that it is quite an irony that neither the LG administration nor even the Tribal Department have come forward to assess the losses suffered by the nomads due to incessant heavy snowfall and rains. He further castigated the incumbent Govt for totally neglecting the nomad community due to which these nomads are compelled to live in pitiable conditions.
Mr Gupta reminded that it was only National Conference regime in the erstwhile State of J&K that laid special focus on the issues of Gujjars and Bakerwals especially the nomads. He said that NC ensured provision for multiple facilities to the nomads especially for shifting of their cattle, opening of mobile schools for their children, mobile health centres and also constructed Hostels at District headquarters for children etc for them. He said Madr-e – Meharban had worked relentlessly for the welfare of Nomad community.
Rattan Lal Gupta appealed to the LG Administration to take serious note of the pitiable conditions of this economically weaker section and immediately direct the authorities concerned to assess their losses and provide them adequate compensation at the earliest. He also demanded adequate medical, schools and other facilities for these nomads.
Other party functionaries were present on this occasion: Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary Jammu, Ashok Kumar Sharma District President Rajouri Rural, Vikas Sharma, Gulshan Kumar, Vishal Sharma, Ashok kumar Sharma Incharge office, Puspinder Chadda Block President Sunderbani, Subash Saraf District Secretary, Jasvir Singh Sr. District Vice President and others.
(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)
