| Karra flags statehood delay, 'Chanda Chori', youth distress and public-sector gaps | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) on Thursday stepped up its grassroots outreach with a 'Chopal Pe Charcha' at Digiana Rani Talab, bringing into focus a wide spectrum of issues confronting people across Jammu and Kashmir, from the prolonged demand for restoration of statehood and unemployment to healthcare and education vacancies, the concerns of daily wagers and NHM employees, farmers' problems, deteriorating infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
The programme was organised by the District Jammu Congress Committee under the presidentship of Yogesh Sawhney and hosted by Dwarka Chowdhary, former Corporator and Incharge Bishnah Constituency. Former MP Choudhary Lal Singh, S.T.S. Tony, Rajneesh Sharma, Th. Manmohan Singh, Satish Sharma and Dwarka Chowdhary also addressed the gathering and spoke on various issues concerning the people and the need for greater attention to grassroots grievances.
Addressing the gathering, JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra said the Congress was using the Chopal Pe Charcha platform to take public concerns beyond political offices and place them directly before the people. He prominently raised the issue described by the Congress as 'Chanda Chori', besides reiterating the demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Karra has in recent weeks repeatedly argued that the absence of full statehood has created a situation in which people are caught between two centres of authority, and has sought accountability over commitments made regarding restoration of statehood.
Karra also focused on the employment and livelihood concerns of the Union Territory, particularly those affecting its youth. He referred to unemployment, recruitment-related grievances and examination controversies, while stressing that the aspirations of young people cannot be addressed merely through announcements. He raised the long-pending concerns of daily wagers and other temporary employees, as well as stipend-related issues of medical interns and the demands of NHM employees for better job security and service conditions.
The Congress has recently highlighted the NHM agitation and demands concerning job security, remuneration and social-security benefits as major public issues.
The JKPCC chief further drew attention to shortages of staff in hospitals, schools and colleges, inadequate infrastructure, broken roads, farmers' difficulties, inflation and the pressures confronting ordinary households and small businesses. He also referred to concerns surrounding charges on specified UPI merchant transactions and said economic policies must be examined from the perspective of their impact on common people. Karra maintained that the youth, whom he described as the backbone of the country, require greater opportunities in employment, education and entrepreneurship, while public institutions need adequate manpower and infrastructure to deliver essential services. |
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