STATE TIMES NEWS
PULWAMA: Minister of Finance, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, on Friday said the past three decades of violence has produced a generation of orphans in Jammu and Kashmir who have been neglected by cross-sections of the society. “It should be the prime responsibility of elected legislators as well as the State Government to address their varied problems,” Drabu said during Eid Milan hosted for orphans in Pulwama. “The absolute neglect faced by orphans in Kashmir over the last three decades has been breeding alienation in the State. It needs a permanent resolution which will go a long way in addressing the socio-political issues in Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr Drabu said. A group of nearly 150 orphans belonging to economically downtrodden sections of society were invited by Dr Drabu for Eid Milan at the Circuit House in Pulwama which was followed by lunch. The event was also attended by the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, Muneer-ul-Islam as well as the officers from the civil and police administration of Pulwama district. The minister interacted with the young boys and gave a patient hearing to their problems. During the interaction, the Minister was informed about the steps being taken by the State Government to alleviate the problems of orphans. The minister urged the District Administration to keep its doors open for such sections of the society who have been victimized by fate and address their problems on priority. Dr Drabu later distributed gifts among the boys who in turn expressed gratitude to the Minister for hosting them.