Srinagar, Mar 25 (KNS): Former legislator and Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Haji Mumtaz Ahmad Khan on Wednesday demanded immediate evacuation of Jammu and Kashmir labourers who are stranded in different parts of the country and have been hit hard over the Coronavirus crisis that has resulted into a countrywide lockdown.
In a statement issued to KNS, Khan expressed deep concern about the condition of these labourers especially belonging to different areas of Jammu division who are stuck in different states of the country.
“Over five hundred labourers from different areas of district Reasi like Gulabgarh, 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 Reasi are also stuck in Jammu and other districts of J&K. They should be immediately brought back to their homes in view of the alarming spread of COVID-19,” the former legislator from Gulabgarh demanded.
“In the backdrop of the Coronavirus scare affecting the livelihoods of daily wage earners, the J&K government must urgently facilitate evacuation of the stranded labourers of J&K especially Jammu division whose families are direly awaiting for their safe return,” the JKAP leader observed.
He said that as a measure of social distancing and to contain the spread of the virus, the stranded labourers of Reasi and other places of Jammu and Kashmir are facing tremendous difficulties including running short of money outside J&K due to government imposed country wide lockdown.
“Under the prevailing circumstances these labourers are the worst-hit because they are dependent on their daily earnings to meet the basic needs. I am told by their families that these labourers are running short of money and cannot sustain for too long away from their homes,” Khan remarked.
While appreciating the local administration for the measures being taken for prevention of Coronavirus spread in district Reasi, Khan said that the government 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 that poor inhabitants of the district are not left craving for essential commodities.
The JKAP leader demanded that J&K government should provide free food 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 out of COVID-19 is overcome.

“The J&K government should also ensure availability of medicines in all hospitals including district, all sub district hospitals, primary health centres and sub centres in district Reasi and announce special financial assistance for people in below poverty line category and low-income groups like daily wagers, labourers, street vendors and construction workers in these pressing times,” he demanded further. (KNS)