Taking up the ongoing Dogri language row with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana has sought immediate governmental intervention in terms of sanctioning Dogri lecturers and teachers posts for all the schools and colleges of the Jammu region.

 “This is not about imposition or dilution of any particular language but promotion of all the languages including Dogri, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, Bodhi, Gojri and Sanskrit as a matter of policy, keeping in view linguistic diversity of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, Rana told the Chief Minister during review of developmental works of the Jammu region at Srinagar.

He regretted over the avoidable controversy, saying that the concerned department ought to have taken not of sensitivities involved and sanctioned the posts of Dogri in the Jammu division. He hoped that the coalition government will appreciate the sensitivities involved and take immediate corrective measures.

He raised volley of issues confronting to the people of Jammu and demanded regulated power supply, keeping in view the ongoing scorching monsoon season. He said that erratic power generally impacts the drinking water supply, and therefore there is a need for creating separate electricity wing in the Public Health Engineering Department for ensuring regulated water supply even during the power failures. He said electricity and drinking water supply were posing immense problems to the people of Jammu these months.

Rana regretted over the slow pace under Deendayal Upadayay Yojna despite lots of expectations generated for improving the power scenario and said that it needs to be translated into reality on ground.

On financial assistance to widows, destitute and under the special component of marriages of girls, the Provincial President expressed concern that over 25,000 applications were pending disposal in the Jammu district alone. Due to slow and lackadaisical pace of processing the poor segments of the society were suffering hugely, he said and stressed the need for clearing all these cases in a special drive. He also sought recasting of the BPL lists so that eligible families get enrolled for various incentives under the various programmes. 

Rana expressed grave concern over the wrong selection of site for setting up of AIIMS in Jammu and referred to the report of the Chief Engineer CPWD about the proposed site near Vijaypur not being suitable due to various reasons.

He said lack of vision has resulted in the confusion over the project and therefore the government must consider relocation of the AIIMS on Nagrota-Udhampur axis, given its centrality, accessibility and feasibility. He hoped that a decision in this regard will be taken in right earnest.

The MLA Nagrota also sought construction on modern lines the tourism sector Parmandal-Surinsar, Chilla, Tada, Domail-Katra Road, keeping in view the huge potential of pilgrim tourism in the area, saying this will give a much needed boost to the peripheral areas, as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has emerged as the premier yatras of northern India. He said the road project is needed to be pursued with the Asian Development Bank vigorously so that the benefits percolate down to lower strata of society by way of raising tourism facilities.

Expressing grave concern over denial of levy sugar to the rationed population in the state, Rana called for releasing it to the consumers forthwith, as they were facing lot of difficulties on this count, He also raised the issue with regard to the issuance of Adhar cards and said that a proper mechanism should be put in place so that the left over population is in a position to get these cards prepared at designated places across the state.

Referring to the smart cities project, Rana urged the Chief Minister to seize the opportunity in creating a model micro city in Jammu with huge funding available for the purpose. To the observations that only four cities among the 66 proposed smart cities will have such concepts, Rana retorted back, “Let Jammu be the fifth one”.

He said this historic city has a huge potential and given the funding of Rs 3,500 crores a major stride can be taken by adopting a visionary concept rather than pumping this money on lanes and drains. “For a state like Jammu and Kashmir, it should not be a difficult to generate additional resources to have a model city in the midst with all the modern facilities”, he said while stressing the need for moving beyond the routine.

Devender Singh Rana also made a strong plea for putting in place an effective monitoring mechanism, emphasising that the decisions taken in the previous board meetings need to be implemented and monitored.

Guest