Bhella (Bhaderwah), May 23 (Scoop News) – Welcoming the decision of the Centre to depute a fact-finding team to earthquake hit Chenab Valley districts in the wake of memo on package submitted by the Omar Abdullah led government, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Thursday exuded confidence that the requisite assistance of Rs 607.77 crore will be released earnestly, enabling the sufferers to construct and renovate their damaged houses ahead of winter.
“The Leh type package is imperative for the affected districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban, keeping in view the extent of damages caused by tremors and backwardness of the mountainous hilly region”, Mr Rana said while addressing the people at Thelala and Bhella in Bhaderwah area.
Expecting the memo of package getting immediate nod of the Union Government, Mr Rana said this will go a long way in bringing cheer in the lives of the sufferers and relieving them of their miseries. His optimism stemmed out of the assurance held out by the Prime Minister, to the Chief Minister during his recent meeting in New Delhi. He said Omar Abdullah was working on all the fronts to seek and ensure maximum possible assistance for the hapless people.
The Provincial President, however, said the efforts could prove counter-productive if the genuine sufferers fail to get the compensation, as per actual damages caused to their assets. Keeping this in view, he said, he along with his team has taken up with the state government the issue regarding displaying of the assessment lists in each Panchayat. “We understand that necessary instructions have been issued to all the concerned in the administration for putting the assessment lists in public domain so that the objections, if any, by the aggrieved people or their chosen Panchayat members are taken care of. “This is in best interests of the suffering people and ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution of assistance”, he maintained.
Mr Rana said the efforts of the Chief Minister have fructified in the empowerment of the people in decision making with the Panchayati Raj becoming a reality, which stand guarantee for safeguarding their interests. He also referred to the Right to Information Act which gives the people right to ask from anyone and everyone, howsoever big he may be, in the government.
Mr Rana also urged the people to help administration in arriving at right conclusions over the extent of damages, instead of asserting pressure or seeking political interventions for deriving undue favours. “This is essentially a human problem and the people should appreciate this fact and make it possible that the actual sufferers get the assistance they deserve”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, former minister and Central Secretary Doda-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency besides MLA, Abdul Gani Malik lauded the resilience of the tremor hit people in meeting the challenges post earthquake and assured them that all necessary steps would be taken for their rehabilitation. He referred to the measures already taken by the government in terms of three months free rations and temporary shelters to give some relief to the victims.
Mr Malik decried the attempts of politicising the miseries of the victims at a time when they needed compassion and help from all, irrespective of their political affiliations, and said that petty politics may prove as counter-productive for the exploiters.
The National Conference leader said that his party workers had fanned out in the far flung areas and got engaged in social work in order to mitigate the sufferings of the people.
District President Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy reiterated his party’s resolve to serving as a bridge between the people and the administration for ensuing availability of basics to the victims of the natural calamity.
“We have taken a conscious decision to suspend political activities in the affected area for a month and work for the betterment of the people as social workers”, he said while giving the resume of measures taken by National Conference in every nook and corner of the district to highlight people’s problems and seeking their redressal.
The team, comprising Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Provincial Secretary, Th Kashmira Singh, Mr Brij Mohan Sharma, ex legislators, met a cross section of people, irrespective of their party affiliations, took note of their problems, assuring that these will be got solved by taking up with all concerned.
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