Reach out to suffering populations of border districts: Altaf Bukhari to Government

Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday reiterated his demand for providing free ration, medicines and other essential commodities to the BPL families and other economically weaker working classes especially living in border districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, Bukhari said that the a vast majority ofpopulation living in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir comprises of belowpoverty line and marginalized sections and need special attention of thegovernment in the prevailing situation.

   

The JKAP president said that for residents of theseborderlands most of whom work as porters with Indian army; the livelihood hasbeen hit hard by the COVID pandemic. “The J&K government must address woesof their families and reach out to them in this hour of crisis at least withfree ration, medicines and other essential commodities to prevent them fromthis deadly disease in keeping with the social isolation norms intoconsideration,” Bukhari demanded.

Giving instances of few villages of border district Kupwara,Bukhari said that he has been receiving distress calls that families of portersand a vast section of BPL population is facing immense difficulties and are atthe verge of facing starvation. “I have been informed by JKAP cadres thatinhabitants of villages like Manzpathara, Manchatra, Khanbal, Budnambal andZunreshi in district Kupwara are craving for basic necessities like ration andfuel. How can government expect them to maintain social distancing when theyhave nothing to eat and keep themselves confined to their homes?” Bukhariasked.

The JKAP president urged the Lieutenant Governor G.S Murmuto order all border district administration in Jammu and Kashmir to reach outto such underprivileged sections and provide them free ration and other itemsnecessary for their sustenance. “The district administrations should act as pertheir databases available with them and in addition they should deploy theirfield officers to contact such families which are in dire need of officialsupport to safely pass this period of Pandemic,” Bukhari appealed.

He also appealed the rank and file of JKAP to offer theirvolunteer services and try to reach out to such families that are in need oftheir help in this crucial time. “My appeal to JKAP colleagues, cadres/workersis to work as volunteers and support and help such families in their vicinitiesin this hour of natural disaster. It is a moral and social duty upon all of usto assess vulnerability of people in our respective areas and respondaccordingly to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 in our immediateneighborhood,” he observed.

Bukhari said that for battling with the COVID-19 pandemicpeople in general and JKAP workers in particular should not expect everythingfrom the government and should instead adopt a community based approach tocombat the spread of this disease.

He asked the JKAP workers in Jammu and Kashmir to reach outto the families of daily rated workers, daily wagers, ITI skilled labourers,casual labourers, construction workers, vendors, and other vulnerable sectionsof the society whose livelihood has been badly affected by the lockdown.

“While these sections of the society shall remain healthy bythe home confinement but they are suffering loss of income or health care as aresult of self isolation and other necessary measures being mandatory in lightof the government health advisories. In light of this situation, I ferventlyappeal my party colleagues and cadres to come forward to help such affectedfamilies irrespective of their faith and political beliefs,” he observed.

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