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| Multi-crore MIS schemes for Kashmir fruit growers, nothing for Jammu! | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 10: Even as the administration of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a Market Intervention Scheme(MIS) for the apple growers of Kashmir, no such scheme been started for the horticulturists of Jammu province.
On September 12, Administration had launched the MIS for the apple growers of Kashmir whereby the government is procuring apple crop from the fruit growers through the National Agricultural Cooperation Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) to "stop the distress sale at lower prices due to the prevalent conditions in Kashmir."
Govt had initially established four fruit mandis in Kashmir at Sopore, Pairmpora, Anantnag and Shopian for the procurement of the crop from the growers.
Officials said by the end of September alone over 25,000 fruit boxes were received at the four mandis with price per Kg ranging at over Rs 50 per Kg on average.
Though Jammu province doesn't grow apples, it grows other popular fruits like oranges, mangoes, papaya and olives.
Market pundits said if MIS was started for one province, the administration should have introduced similar schemes for Jammu as well.
"Due to ceasefire violations and aggressive shelling by Pakistan, Jammu has been suffering more and more so in the rural belt where horticulture is backbone of economy. The government should have introduced similar incentives for Jammu as well," said a market pundit adding that the role of the Jammu and Kashmir administration hints at continuation of discrimination with Jammu province.
"Everyone is concerned about Kashmir, which actually harbors separatist sentiment and has been on strike against New Delhi's historic decision of revoking Article 270. But the irony is that the interests of nationalist Jammu which stands by Modi JI's decision are ignored," the market player added.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, Kashmir province is getting extra attention but apparently at the cost of interests of Jammu.
Whereas Rs 28 crore have been releases as additional funds for improvement of civic infrastructure in Srinagar, no such development took place for Jammu.
In another similar move, recruitment drives in police have been started for various districts of Kashmir whereas Jammu is said to be largely on the waiting list.
When contacted a senior official in the civil secretariat told Early Times that complaints of "alleged discrimination with Jammu were pouring in." "The matter is likely to be looked into," he said adding the administration was committed towards "equal development of the two provinces of the union territory. |
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