Addressing party workers and media persons, he voiced serious concern over livelihood insecurity, rising unemployment, escalating power tariffs, inadequate flood relief and the continued denial of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Tara Chand said the government has reduced governance to announcements and slogans, while ground realities paint a grim picture. He noted that unemployment, particularly among educated youth, has reached alarming levels, with thousands of young people struggling for opportunities despite repeated assurances of large-scale job creation. “Promises of economic revival and youth empowerment have failed to translate into tangible outcomes, leading to growing frustration, despair and loss of trust among the youth,” he remarked.

 

Strongly defending the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Tara Chand termed it a statutory and legal right of the people and a crucial economic lifeline for rural households. He warned that any attempt to weaken, dilute or underfund the scheme would have devastating consequences for poor and marginal families, especially in rural, border and hilly areas of J&K. 

 

He demanded adequate budgetary allocation, timely release of funds and prompt payment of wages, stating that MGNREGA plays a vital role in ensuring dignity, food security and rural stability.

 

Raising the long-pending issue of daily wagers, need-based workers and contractual employees, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that these workers have been serving various departments for decades without job security or social protection. He criticized the government for repeatedly delaying their regularization despite assurances and court directions. “Keeping thousands of families in perpetual uncertainty is unjust and inhuman. These workers deserve dignity, stability and a secure future,” he asserted.

 

Tara Chand expressed grave concern over the government’s failure to provide timely and adequate relief to flood-affected families.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe said that even months after devastating floods, many victims are still waiting for compensation and proper rehabilitation. Calling the official response insensitive and inadequate, he demanded immediate release of relief funds, transparent assessment of losses and a comprehensive rehabilitation policy to help affected families rebuild their lives.

Criticizing the installation of smart meters and steep electricity tariffs, Tara Chand said these measures have further burdened common people already grappling with inflation, unemployment and shrinking incomes. He demanded rational power pricing, protection for domestic consumers and special relief for economically weaker sections, warning that essential services like electricity cannot be treated as profit-driven commodities.

 

Highlighting the growing alienation among the youth, Shri Tara Chand said that repeated assurances of employment and skill development have remained unfulfilled. He cautioned that continued neglect of youth aspirations poses a serious threat to social harmony and long-term stability. He called for urgent, concrete policy measures to generate sustainable employment and restore hope among young people.Reiterating the Congress party’s firm and consistent demand, Shri Tara Chand stressed that the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is essential for democracy, dignity and constitutional governance. He said statehood is key to ensuring accountability, empowering elected representatives and safeguarding the unique identity, culture and democratic rights of the people.

 

Summing up his address, Tara Chand said that people-centric governance has been replaced by publicity-driven narratives, while genuine issues remain unresolved. He asserted that the Congress party will continue to raise people’s concerns at every forum and hold the government accountable for its failures.In his concluding remarks, Tara Chand reaffirmed the Congress party’s unwavering commitment to fight for the rights, livelihoods and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He called upon party workers to strengthen the organization at the grassroots level and intensify public outreach, assuring that the Congress will remain a strong and consistent voice for justice, accountability and democratic values in J&K UT.(KNS)