Despite passing of years, successive governments have failed to compensate poor families whose orchard land was acquired for construction of government school buildings at Faqir Gujri in Dhara area here with a pledge to compensate in form of jobs to landowners.
The families have not been provided any regular or non-regular employment till date and now with the finance minister announcing regularisation policy, they hope to get justice after years.
In 2014, authorities had asked Abdul Rashid Famda to provide his one Kanal of land at Faqir Gujri for construction of school building.
“I was not willing to lose my sole piece of land. It was an orchard with cherry and walnut trees. It was only source of income for my entire family,” said Famda.
He added that he refused the offer from government and asked them to identify some other land in the area for the purpose. “I informed the authorities that this land is only source to feed my family. My family also opposed the offer,” he added.
“It was only after authorities assured to provide class-IV job to a family member apart from due compensation that I agreed. Subsequently, the land was acquired by government and construction of school building was started,” he said.
“During its construction, every official who would visit the site, assured me that I will be compensated. However, for past over four years, I am running from pillar to post to get due compensation and Class VI job in the school as promised. We had also completed all formalities and submitted all required documents in Srinagar deputy commissioner’s office,” he rued.
Famda’s family comprises wife, four daughters and two sons.
“I used to work in my orchard and make good profits by selling the fruits grown in my orchard. I was able to meet expenses of medicines of my old aged parents, education of younger brother besides feeding entire family. I was self-employed person those days. But official apathy rendered me jobless and made me dependent,” he said.
Similarly in the same locality, two kanals of land were acquitted from Noorudin Lali with promise of compensation and job. “I have been moving from one office to other but till date no compensation or promised job has been given,” he said.
“We appeal Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and finance minister to look into our grievance of compensation and direct the concerned officials to pay compensation to us and Class VI job to a family member as promised by the authorities,” said family member.