STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that justice has been delivered to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since India’s Independence.
“We are also planning to establish a Backward Welfare Department like other states in the country”, the Lieutenant Governor said while interacting with a delegation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at Raj Bhawan here.
The members of the community expressed their profound gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reservations in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of J&K.
He said the Act passed by the Parliament will be implemented in letter and spirit. Rules are being framed and will be published soon, he added.
The Lt Governor reiterated the commitment of the UT Administration towards the empowerment of OBCs to realize the vision of Viksit Jammu Kashmir.
Today, the UT of Jammu Kashmir is witnessing a transformative change in the society. It is a new beginning for the deprived sections of the society, the Lt Governor said.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accelerated development, better infrastructure and facilities have boosted the local economy, and established peace and harmony in Jammu Kashmir, he added.
Mohammad Iqbal Ahangar, Chairman, Jammu Kashmir Other Backward Classes (OBCs) Welfare Association, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for socio-economic and socio-political upliftment of the OBC community. He said, the last four years in the history of J&K have been truly “4 Saal Bemisaal”.
Mohammad Shafi Shama, President, J&K OBC Welfare Association, thanked the Government of India and UT Administration for empowering the OBC community in J&K. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mitigated our decades-old suffering and provided justice to the community, Advocate Shabir Ahmed said.
More than 150 representatives of the OBCs from different walks of life were present during the interaction.

Govt committed to empowerment of tribal communities: Sinha

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government is committed to empowerment of tribal communities.
“It is a new era of progress, prosperity, stability and hope for the tribal population of the Union Territory,” the Lt Governor said while interacting with the 160-member delegation of Pahari Community from Kashmir division at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar. The community members from different parts of Kashmir Division thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inclusion of Paharis, Padari, Koli and Gadda Brahmin in the list of Scheduled Tribes in J&K.
“It is a historic moment for the Pahari population of J&K. The inclusion of Pahari community in the Scheduled Tribes list is the reflection of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. Paharis were neglected for decades, but now in the next 10 years, we will see a considerable change in our lives,” Raja Aijaz Ali, former IGP said.
Abdul Majid Zindadil said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Paharis have got freedom in a real sense after struggling for more than 70 years. Our voice was suppressed for decades, but due to sincere efforts of the Lt Governor, we have been given our due representation, Bashir Ahmad Khan from Anantnag said. Prominent Pahari leaders from different walks of life, community elders and youth of the community were present during the interaction.