RAMBAN, JANUARY 17 (KNS): Apni Party Vice President, and Former Minister, Aijaz Ahmed Khan today urged Govt of Jammu and Kashmir to review its order to retrieve Stateland from the people as it has spread panic among the marginalized and farmers across the erstwhile State.
Addressing a party workers meeting at Dalwah Block Sangaldan, Aijaz Ahmed Khan said that “The people are deeply concerned about the order issued by the Revenue Department and to retrieve stateland from the people across J&K. The marginalized section of society, especially farmers, are dependent upon the land for cultivation, and cattle rearing, otherwise there is no other option for the people to depend on any other option.”
He said that “Majority of the people especially farmers have not more than 5 to 10 kanals of land for agriculture purpose, small houses, and cattle rearing.”
“If the marginalized section is dependent upon the Stateland for their livelihood, can it be termed as illegal encroachment or illegal use of the land? Is it not a welfare state? If yes, why are these orders being issued which are against the people and can have devastating effect on large population in J&K,” he questioned the Govt of J&K which asked the people to vacate the Govt land in a stipulated time frame or they will launch an anti-encroachment drive.
He said that “These people have been cultivating their fields and have small houses on the stateland for the last three to four generations. If the Govt officials visit them on the ground, they will see the reality of poverty and backwardness among the people in view of other options.”
He said that the situation will further aggravate and will give more issues if the people are uprooted and their houses are razed by the Govt officials without considering the humanitarian crises their order would cause.
“It is the fault of the Revenue Officials who did not register Intikal in the Revenue Records despite sanction from the cabinet of the Govt of J&K. The people were left helpless and now this Govt has issued an order without knowing the ground reality,” he said.
He however assured the people that the Apni Party will support them and no one will be allowed to uproot the marginalized section or farmers from the lands they have been holding for decades.
He said that “Ramban district is one of the most backward districts in J&K. The people have hardly any other source of earning. The people are working in highway widening and power projects with minimum wages as labourers.”
He demanded that educational institutions should be upgraded in Ramban, Banihal and other areas in the District, roads connectivity should be improved, electricity should be provided round the clock, and its usage bills should be reduced, upgradation of the health infrastructures and staff in the education and health institutions.
He said that employment opportunities should be provided to the educated youth in Ramban as the regular advertisement for recruitment in Govt jobs has declined and it has resulted that the youth have become overaged while waiting for the jobs.
He said that authorities have made very difficult procedures to get electricity, water connections, pension and other facilities of the Govt which needed to be eased out in favour of the people.(KNS)