Srinagar, Mar 22: Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader Ghulam Hassan Mir on Sunday asked the government to come up with concrete relief measures for a larger section of the society whose livelihood has got affected by inter district transport ban and other restrictions imposed by the authorities in view of Coronavirus outbreak in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued Mir said while necessary measures including ban on all forms of public transport and normal movement across Jammu and Kashmir is imperative to tackle the spread of this deadly disease, the government should also take concrete steps to mitigate the sufferings of people affected by these restrictions.
“JKAP is concerned over the plight of families whose livelihood has got badly hit due to these mandatory restrictions. Unfortunately, the Jammu and Kashmir government seems to be a mute spectator to their miseries and sufferings. Like other governments in UP, Delhi, Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal the J&K government should also come up with measures to help the people who are unable to sustain their families in these hard times,” Mir demanded.
He said that a vast section of the society including labourers, daily wagers, vendors, ITI trained labourers, transporters and shopkeepers whose livelihood has been drastically affected by the restrictions on public gatherings, assembly and the movement of people both in cities and other district headquarters and towns across Jammu and Kashmir need to be helped out by the government in these pressing times.
“The central government must extend all possible financial support including free ration and other essential commodities to such families who are otherwise compelled to come out from their homes to make a living. Such families be provided with free ration and monthly financial assistance till the situation normalizes and the restrictions are eased out on public movement,” the JKAP leader observed.
He remarked that the novel Coronavirus was causing terrible financial stress to the poor in Jammu and Kashmir like other parts of the country and the government must announce extra ration from government depots and fair-price shops to the BPL and other underprivileged families free of cost.
“Similarly, the government must release enhanced pensions for widows, differently-abled and elderly people in view of the lockdown caused by the pandemic,” Mir demanded, adding that the central government must support the J&K residents with its liberal financial help to tackle the outbreak of the Coronavirus which has hugely impacted the public life across the world. (KNS)
