Srinagar, April 21 (KNS):Hasnain Masoodi, MP in a statement, on Tuesday has welcomed airlifting of students and pilgrims from Jaisalmir. He has asked the Central Government to facilitate evacuation of students stuck in Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. Masoodi has asked the JK administration not to allow MHA order on inter-state travel to stand in the way of return of the stranded labourers and students from Kashmir. He has stated that the restriction on inter-state movement of labourers seemingly is part of the economic opening up and revival plan so that en mass return of the labourers to their states , may not leave the industry without work force and thwart the economic opening plan. The statement explains that the labourers from Kashmir only seasonally migrate to adjoining states for winter months and return in early March to commence agricultural operations in their respective villages and therefore are not migratory labourers permanently associated with economic activity of an area, or having a role in industrial revival and therefore are to be treated as a distinct class.
The statement reiterates that the labourers are living in tents, without day to day necessities and in most unhygienic conditions with least scope for social distancing. The soaring temperatures together with lack of sanitation, it is stated, make the stranded labourers prone to infectious diseases. The plight of students stranded within and outside Country, the statement adds, is equally a cause of grave concern as the students are faced with most inconvenient and painful situation. It is stated that with States like UP, Gujarat despite lockdown, undertaking massive operations to evacuate thousands of pilgrims and students stranded in other states and Maharashtra Government reportedly allowing travel of 100000 sugarcane workers to their native villages, the administration must take note of the situation alarming for more than one reasons and immediately undertake evacuation and return of stranded labourers and students, he said in a statement issued to KNS.
Masoodi has demanded that procedure for grant of permission for Jammu - Srinagar travel be immediately reviewed as people stranded in far flung areas of Jammu find not only difficult but impossible to reach the prescribed authority through email or otherwise. The statement suggests that an officer easily accessible be designated in each of the district’s for the purpose.(KNS)