Former legislator and Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Haji MumtazAhmad Khan on Wednesday demanded immediate evacuation of Jammu and Kashmirlabourers who are stranded in different parts of the country and have been hithard over the Coronavirus crisis that has resulted into a countrywide lockdown.
In a statement issued here, Khan expressed deep concern about thecondition of these labourers especially belonging to different areas of Jammudivision who are stuck in different states of the country.
“Over five hundred labourers from different areas of district Reasi likeGulabgarh, Chasana, Mahore, Panasa, Nayabat Chakalwala, Budan, Thuroo, Arnas,Gool, Sangaldan are stranded in different states of the country like Utrakhand,Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Hyderabad and other states. Some labourers from Reasiare also stuck in Jammu and other districts of J&K. They should beimmediately brought back to their homes in view of the alarming spread ofCOVID-19,” the former legislator from Gulabgarh demanded.
“In the backdrop of the Coronavirus scareaffecting the livelihoods of daily wage earners, the J&K government musturgently facilitate evacuation of the stranded labourers of J&K especiallyJammu division whose families are direly awaiting for their safe return,” theJKAP leader observed.
He said that as a measure of social distancing and to contain the spreadof the virus, the stranded labourers of Reasi and other places of Jammu andKashmir are facing tremendous difficulties including running short of moneyoutside J&K due to government imposed country wide lockdown.
“Under the prevailing circumstances these labourers are the worst-hitbecause they are dependent on their daily earnings to meet the basic needs. I am told by their families that these labourers are running shortof money and cannot sustain for too long away from their homes,” Khan remarked.
While appreciating the local administration for the measures being takenfor prevention of Coronavirus spread in district Reasi, Khan said that thegovernment of J&K should ensure availability of free ration including rice,sugar and flour in government depots and fair price shops in the areas so thatpoor inhabitants of the district are not left craving for essentialcommodities.
The JKAP leader demanded that J&K government should provide freefood grains to the blow poverty line families especially those of labourers,differently able persons, daily wagers, old age pensioners, casual labourers,and other marginalized sections of the society till the situation arising outof COVID-19 is overcome.”The J&K government should also ensureavailability of medicines in all hospitals including district, all sub districthospitals, primary health centres and sub centres in district Reasi andannounce special financial assistance for people in below poverty line categoryand low-income groups like daily wagers, labourers, street vendors andconstruction workers in these pressing times,” he demanded further.