Srinagar: A day after regional parties of Jammu and Kashmir sharply reacted to administration’s “land for homeless” in Jammu and Kashmir statement, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday stated that ‘gone are the days when some people were acting as the owners of government property and funds’.
Addressing the National Tribal Festival at SKICC, the LG said that the recent announcement of giving land to 2, 711 landless families and homes to those who are homeless has “pinched some people” who have started to oppose the move.
“I want to tell them that gone are the days when they were treating themselves as the owners of government property and funds. Gone are the days when they were taking decisions that suit their political interests. They grabbed State land constructed huge houses for themselves and left poor suffer. The same people are now misleading the common people,” the LG said in an obvious reference to National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and other regional politicians who had opposed the administration’s decision.
While Omar had questioned who were the homeless in JK, PDP chief Mehbooba had stated that the move was aimed to convert JK into a slum by bringing outsiders to settle here.
The LG said that Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna was implemented across the country except JK.
“Now that the scheme is being implemented in JK too, some people feel the pain. This is Modi’s dream and will be fulfilled,” he said.
“Each homeless family will get 5 malras so that they can build their dream house,” he said.
Sinha said that a series of steps have been for the welfare of Tribal people that include training tools, buyer/seller meets, and that there is a proposal to conduct buyer seller meets for them as well.
“Efforts are on to train the tribal youth for prestigious exams and ensure free coaching for them,” Sinha claimed.
He said that ancestors of Tribal community have paid huge sacrifices for J&K even after suffering a lot.
“August 5, 2019 was a historic day for Tribal community as the day ended disparity for them,” the LG said.
He said not just the Tribal Affairs Department but other departments of the administration will work with close synergy for the welfare of Tribals.
He said that a fresh web portal will have a data base of all 4 lakh Tribal in JK that will be help track them anytime.
“There will be free transport the Tribals during their migration period so that they can reach their destinations within two days instead of a month. Free ambulance services will also be provided to them. Primary Health Services will also be set up to cater to the health needs of Tribals,” the LG claimed.
He also announced that Tribal Affairs Institute (TAI) will be further upgraded and youth will be trained to extract herbs in forests. (KNO)