Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 15: Border Area People Welfare Forum (BAPWF) organized a car/tractor rally which started from Arnia - enroute Chack Majara, Nandpur - Alah and culminated at Tehsil Office Arnia.
The President of the Forum Ch. Kamal Singh demanded that Governor should consider the reservation benefits to the extent of 20% to the people of border areas.
The President also said that due to unprovoked firing of Pakistan, the people have been living in very miserable conditions. Their houses are damaged, people and their children are frequently killed/ injured in the firing and their education also suffers.
People have to frequently migrate from their houses to the safer places, government should also consider their long pending main demands for providing of 7 marlas plots to the border residents.
Other demands highlighted by the speakers included irrigation facilities, compensate to the tune of Rs. 50.00 lacs along with martyred status who were killed during the PAK firing, insurance cover for inhabitants/livestock/ house/crops/tractors etc, exemption of electricity tariff used for irrigation purposes, honorarium to the tune of Rs. 10,000/- per month per ration card as they are the first line of defence, border area development board should be constituted; hostels should be set up at Distt. Headquarters for the students; compensation/rent to the owners of land whose land has been acquired for fencing on border and refugees of 1947, 1965, 1971 should be compensated as per the recommendations of JPC constituted by Govt. of India (Rs. 30.00 lacs) and also voting rights and state subjects to West Pak refugees.
Prominent among others who attended the rally included Ch. Saudhagar Singh, Sh. Som Nath Bhagat, Sub Girdhari Lal Saini, Sub Ajit Singh, Sub Sat Pal, Capt. Swarn, Sarpanch Avtar Singh and Sarpanch Raghubir Singh. |
