Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 9: CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA M.Y. Tarigami today urged the Government to extend the recently announced 200 units of free electricity to people living below the poverty line (BPL) and address the long-pending demands of casual laborers and ad-hoc employees.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Tarigami said that casual laborers and ad-hoc employees play a crucial role in various Government departments but continue to face job insecurity. “Their demands are genuine, and they have been demanding job security for a long time. They are the backbone of different departments, and it is unjust to remain silent on their issues. While we understand there are limitations in UT, ignoring their plight is unacceptable,” he said. Click here to watch video
Tarigami said that while the Government’s decision to provide 200 free units under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) scheme is welcome, it should also be extended to all BPL families. “Electricity is a major issue. If free power is being provided, then the entire BPL category should be included,” he said.
Commenting on land acquisition for industrialization, Tarigami said he was not against development but questioned whether affected farmers were receiving fair compensation as per the laws. “I want to know who is being given land and whether the farmers whose land has been taken have received compensation as per the law,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the shrinking agricultural land due to road construction and urban expansion. “Roads are being built at the cost of farmland, and we are left with very little land. If farmers’ land is taken, should they not be fairly compensated?” he asked.
Referring to the Government’s plan to develop new townships he questioned who would be settled in these areas. “There is no issue in beautifying towns, but questioning such plans in Parliament is not wrong. I will keep asking these questions,” he said.
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