STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Former MLC and Senior Congress leader, Ravinder Sharma expressed serious concern over the recent developments indicating refusal of the Central Government to sanction the entire package recommended by State to the Centre regarding one time financial relief and reservation in central services and technical courses to the wards of DPs of 1947, 1965 and 1971.
Reacting to these report, Ravinder Sharma lashed out at the Modi Government and the BJP for clear betryal with the refugees, who were promised ex-gratia relief of more than Rs 30 lakh, reservations in jobs and courses besides reservation of eight Assembly seats to DPs out of the seats reserved for POJK area.
He questioned the BJP ministers, legislators and leaders for their failure to get the entire package, as recommended by the then State Government, sanctioned besides fulfilling the election Jumlas. Sharma said that he being part of the entire exercise undertaken by the Congress leadership of the state to impress upon the central and State Government to frame a comprehensive package for these refugees in consultation with their organisations, is aware of the efforts made in this regard and get a package of this kind, recommended by the State to the Centre, for the first time in seventy years. The BJP had then promised moon to them for getting voted in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
“The reservations to their wards , in central forces and professional/technical courses as recommended, would be the real service to these sections but BJP had made several Jumlas promises and is now back tracking. He asked the refugees to unite and come together to fight for their genuine claims in order to get the entire package and promises fulfilled by the Jumla party in power in Centre and State,” he added.
Sharma also lashed out at the government for ignoring the demand of the DPs to simplify procedure for disbursement of meager package of ex-gratia to the deserving families.
He said that it is unfortunate that the aged and old persons are seen in long queues outside PRO and Tehsil offices because of mismanagement and failure to evolve a proper system. He also referred to the report of several middlemen active in the process in connivance with some officials as a result there is large scale exploitation of people.
Sharma asked the government to streamline system in consultation with stake holders and their respective organisations and eliminate the role of middlemen in disbursement process, which should be done at Tehsil HQ of their respective place of settlement of DPs of 1947 instead of present system at PRO HQ Jammu.