Jammu : The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), a registered organization working for the welfare of the rural population and strengthening grassroots democracy in J&K has raised several demands ahead of the Union Budget.
At a press conference in Jammu, Anil Sharma, President of AJKPC, along with other members of the organization, urged the Union Government to fulfill its promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Sharma emphasized that for over a decade, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to be realized.
Sharma demanded an increase in the MGNREGA honorarium to Rs 400 per day and asked the Finance Minister to make provisions in the budget to clear the pending liability of MGNREGA laborers and vendors from 2017 to date in Jammu and Kashmir. His demands also include starting the Jammu to Poonch Railway Project and laying the foundation stones for the Jammu and Srinagar Metro Projects.
The AJKPC President also highlighted that after the abrogation of Article 370, people in Jammu and Kashmir were optimistic that all daily wagers in the state would receive justice and their services would be regularized. He stressed that it is high time for the Union Budget to include a substantial statement from the Finance Minister regarding this serious issue. “Unemployment is a major problem here in J&K, and our educated youth are under stress and anxiety. Thus, it is the responsibility of the government to provide a minimum Rs 5000 per month stipend to professional degree holders until they get dignified employment,” Sharma said. AJKPC also demanded the establishment of one technical university, one women’s university, and one law university for Jammu and Kashmir, along with ITI colleges in every subdivision. Sharma called for the Union FM to increase the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi and ASHA workers to a minimum of Rs 10,000 with a 10% annual increment, showing sympathy towards these essential workers. Additionally, Sharma urged the government to expedite pending tourism projects like Mubarak Mandi and the Lake on River Tawi with substantial funding. The list of demands also included the start of a Dogri TV channel and an exclusive Dogri radio station.
