STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Shri Vaishno Devi Sewa Committee Baridaran (SVDSCB) on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill his election-time commitments made with Baridars, former caretakers of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine-regarding solving pending and genuine demands of the Baridars including adequate compensation for the community at par with Baridars of Shri Amarnath Shrine and Triputi Shrine.
“30,000 people of Baridars were totally depended upon the offerings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to meet their day to day needs but when Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board took over the Vaishno Devi, Baridars were shunted out,” said Sher Singh, President SVDSCB while addressing a press conference here.
He added the people find it difficult to meet both ends and are living life in extreme poverty as they were not compensated by the board like Baridars of other Hindu shrines.
He said that community only demands 40 per cent reservations in employments in the Shrine Board as per qualification, scholarships to children of Baridars accruing education, 10 per cent seats for wards of Baridars in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and other education institutes run by the Shrine Board like Shrine Boards of other Hindu Shrines, including Shri Amarnath Board, Tirupati Ji, Jwala Ji and already agreed by many administrators of State.
“The Prime Minister had promised to solve the issues of Vaishno Devi Baridars, if voted to power in Jammu and Kashmir but till date it has not been fulfilled,” he added, while making light of Modi’s announcement to fulfill the demands of Vaishno Devi Baridars during his election rally in Udhampur on 28th November 2014.
Remembering his words, Singh said, “The Prime Minister in his known style asked the audience, ‘What is your opinion? Should their problem be solved by meeting their demands?’ he asked, as people responded in affirmative.” He promised that problems will be solved if BJP came in power.
He added after Prime Minister’s assurance to address the grievances of the erstwhile Baridars of Mata Vaishno Devi, over 30,000 Baridar families supported Bharatiya Janata Party in the Assembly elections and saffron party came in power for first time in Jammu and Kashmir.
“BJP-PDP formed government in State but it seems that Prime Minister has forgotten the promise he made with people of erstwhile Baridars of Mata Vaishno Devi, who are running in extreme poverty due to apathy of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Sher Singh said that as we all know the Prime Minister is coming in holy town Katra again to inaugurate Super Specialty Hospital and attend SMVDU convocation I like to remind the Prime Minister to fulfill his election promise and solve Baridars genuine issue.
Others present on the occasion were Vice President Pt.Shankar Dass, General Secretary Pt.Kavi Raj, Secretary Shingar Singh and Treasurer Sanjay Singh.
