Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Apr, 12
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Monday addressed Panchyat Confe rence at Chatha Farm and Chatha Pind in Gandhi Nagar constituency under “Challo Panchayat ki Aur Maha Panchayat” to review the current developmental scenario, besides the outcome of Back to village events and many other developmental issues concerning people, at the grassroots level. The programme was organized by PCC member and Block President Amrit Bali. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Sarpanch Ravinder Singh, District General Secretary Jammu Urban Madam Gurmeet Kour, Pawan Bhagat, Inderjeet Kour Rtd. TSO, Madam Santosh, Panchs Harbhajan Singh, RaJ Kumar, Sudesh Kumar, Amit Kumar, Romesh Kumar, Sandeep, Durbar Kour, Baldev Singh, Parshitam Singh, Teja Singh, Parshotam Lal Bhagat, Mohinder Choudhary Ch. Madhan Lal beside others.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has launched IInd phase of 45 day’s mission under the banner of “Congress Panchayat Ki Aur”.He said programme is aimed to receive feedback of Sarpanchs and Panchs, hold threadbare discussions on the developmental issues concerning people, exposing Govt’s failure to empower PRIs, besides addressing the rising unemployment, unprecedented price hike and many other issues of public importance, which were being ignored by the Govt. Bhalla alleged that `Back to Village Programme’ of the Union Government have turned out merely flop show as the works projected by different Panchayats and local villagers across the Jammu and Kashmir during phases of `Back to Village Programme’ could not be implemented till date.He pointed out that entire Administration in the Jammu and Kashmir was involved in this `hollow’ show. Big banners everywhere and advertisements in newspapers and also on electronic channels appeared and majority of the officials from District Administration, Sub Divisions/ Tehsils, RDD, Information and various other departments were engaged in the campaign, but the outcome of this campaign was zero on the ground.
Describing the much publicised scheme as a flop show, Bhalla said that it utterly failed to win the confidence of Panchayats, which were literally starving for want of funds. Seeking immediate clearance of past liabilities besides early commencement of work with respect to planned schemes of current year, Bhalla said that focus should be on ground delivery rather than baseless hyped announcements merely for political reasons.
Bhalla said there are no results visible on ground from these campaigns, no works/ plans projected during that time were implemented. The Govt recently started 3rd Phase of the programme, without taking review of earlier phases works and promises. Panchayats are not being taken into confidence or involved in the programme. He further alleged that since the formation of Panchayats in the Jammu and Kashmir, meager funds were released in favour of Panchayats for development, while Government functionaries making hollow claims on funds, thus misleading the public. Even the Lt Governor is being misled over the success of this campaign.Seeking intervention of Lt Governor, Bhalla claimed that people were not happy with the working style of J&K machinery.
The public issues have remained unaddressed. It seems Govt has no road map for the empowerment of the PRIs in the Jammu and Kashmir.
Pointing towards the reports of adverse reactions emanating from various Panchayats across J&K during ‘Back to Village’, Bhalla said that the scheme had failed to generate much enthusiasm amongst rural folk. He said that with people disillusioned with results of ‘Back to Village’. The Panchayats were not only feeling cheated but there were reports of boycotts of such functions in several areas, which people believed to be mere publicity stunts, he said.He said that the government has failed to address and assess the specific economic potential and the needs of the villages.The absence of a robust redressal mechanism has therefore rendered the entire exercise ineffective,” he said.
BJP Govt has failed to deliver on many of their promises and people are unhappy because of it. “This government has failed to address the issue of unemployment. It has even stopped the Voluntary Service Allowance (VAS) given to unemployed youth during the previous regime” rued Bhalla.
He said BJP Govt is turning a blind eye towards the apprehensions and concerns of people of J&K, especially Jammu region. Taking a dig at Union Govt, Bhalla claimed that Jammu region is reeling under shortage of various basic requirements but Govt is unmoved. He said Govt lacks approach which is based on consistency, clarity, conviction and creating only mess making people to suffer unnecessarily without any fault of theirs.
Former Minister reminded BJP of fate of ambitious and prestigious developmental projects of Jammu where party did nothing in implementation of the flagship programme of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojna, designed to provide continuous power supply to rural areas, Artificial River Tawi Lake Project and its allied project with regard to beautification of the Suryaputri water body, Jammu Gandola, Smart City Project.
Bhalla observed that BJP regime has antagonized all sections of people whether it is the youth, government employees, women or even children, this government has hurt every section of the society. Making a sketching attack on BJP, Bhalla regretted that people of the Jammu region are back stabbed by BJP leadership as the party has brazenly abandoned its core agenda and has adopted indifferent approach towards problems of the masses. He particularly mentioned the water crisis in the area following which general public of the area going through extreme hardships to manage water for household affairs be it drinking water, water for cooking and bathing. Expressing his anguish over mounting problems of the common masses, Bhalla said that during last six years union govt has done nothing to solve basic problems of the people and added , “Claims of Gov are confined only on papers”.Former Minister said Government has totally lost its credibility due to its mis-governance, which led to the failure of government on all the fronts. He said problems like lack of basic amenities, unemployment and inflation in the J&K forced the common man to live in miserable conditions.Bhalla said that majority of people during interaction maintained that no new developments but only facelifts of previous works were done in the area. On the one hand, there is complete uncertainty in J&K, while on the other hand people are confronting with failure of the administration to solve day today problems”, he said, adding that most parts of the city are facing scarcity of potable water and power and dilapidated condition of lanes.
The development activities in rural areas have come to a standstill due to non-availability of funds. Panchayats are virtually defunct and rural populace is crying for development,” Bhalla said. He reiterated his pledge to continue his crusade against the discrimination unless all the aspirations of the people were addressed and fulfilled in letter and spirit.Former Minister expressed anguish over the ongoing anti-working class policies of Central Government which are causing innumerable hardships on the lives of common people in general and the working class in particular.Bhalla said that large scale disinvestment of public sector units, attack on social security system like pension, amendment in labour laws in favour of corporate, outsourcing, unbundling of Govt departments in a massive way with the abolition of permanent post has caused large scale resentment among the employees/ workers in almost all sectors. Bhalla added huge burden put on the working people by way of GST and withdrawal of subsidy on essential items of livehood are causing immeasurable suffering on the people.
Former minister further said that BJP Govt has failed to introduce any initiatives for upgrading the power sector which could have a long-time impact on power generation and distribution so that the consumers get 24×7 power supply and 100 per cent electrification.
Nothing has been done in the housing and urban development sector which could be instrumental in ensuring that the people of the state get quality facilities of modern urban living, failed to ensure J&K comes up as one of the model UT in the country,” he said.He said there is no clarity and set procedure in public domain to reduce AT&C losses, strengthen the sub-transmission distribution network and electrification of un-electrified household schemes like RAPDRP, IPDS, DDUGJY & RGGVY Phase-II and Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP). Having vast hydro power potential from where electricity is being supplied to several parts of India, but this is the reality that electricity generated in J&K is illuminating thousands of homes in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan but new Union Territory is suffering from want of power, Bhalla added.
