Pulwama, Mar 10: A complete shutdown was observed on Wednesday to protest against the lack of development in this district.
 The shutdown call was given by the Youth Development Forum (YDF), an amalgam of a group of local educated youth, fighting against the “indifferent attitude” of the government towards the district.
 Shops and other business establishments remained closed and vehicles remained off the roads.
 Hundreds of youth assembled in the main chowk and took out a protest march. Youth were beating drums and raising anti-government slogans.
 “The roads in this district are in a dilapidated condition, electric supply is erratic while the potable water supply is still a distant dream,” said secretary of the YDF, Farooq Ahmad.
 He maintained that their organization was purely an apolitical one. “Our only aim is to highlight the miseries of a common man.”
 Farooq said the number of projects undertaken by the respective regimes in the district had been left mid-way.
 “The health sector in the district is in shambles district hospital lacks proper facilities and efficient staff while the Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) have failed to live up to the expectations of the rural people,” he added.
 “Doctors refer patients with minor ailments to Srinagar as they lack resources to treat them,” Farooq said.
 The protesters were also unhappy over the absence of some governments departments in the district headquarters.
 “Pulwama was given district status 25 years ago but till date many departments have not opened their offices here,” protesters said.     
 They expressed resentment over government’s decision to establish Degree College for women in Pampore.
  “The town is more close to Srinagar than Pulwama. So it should be set up in district headquarters,” they added.  
 They also demanded upgrading of the infrastructure in the educational institutes which they said were in shambles.
 The widening of the roads and installing the street lights and taking action against the encroachers were among their other demands.
 The protesters also stressed on the implementation of all the schemes and the utilization of funds allocated by the Chief Minister in the recently convened district developmental board meeting.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST