The government has recently taken two significant steps in support of its citizens, as well as its local governments.
The cabinet announced on Tuesday that they were going to give five Marla (1/4 acre) of land to families that are affected by the recent floods, and will be increasing the salaries of Village Level Workers (VLWs) substantially.
While this is certainly a substantial gesture from the government, it is more than just an action taken by the government, it is clearly a commitment from the government to assist these families.
With the land, the government is finally helping to address the humanitarian crisis that has existed for a long period of time, as families that lost their homes now no longer have an uncertain future and will be able to rebuild their homes and their future properly.
The government has made it abundantly clear that it takes very seriously its responsibility to be the protector of the most vulnerable members of society by providing these families with a foundation of hope.
Also, the government has announced an increase in the salaries of the Village Level Workers (VLWs) by a significant margin.
VLWs are the connection between the government and the local community, and they have a very important role in the government’s programs, the maintenance of government services, and the growth of rural development.
A salary increase is not only an increase to the administrative budget (payroll) but also represents a recognition of the importance of that job in the community.
Salary increases will result in improved employee morale, enhanced recruitment efforts for rural workers, and improved quality of service delivery in rural areas; therefore, they will help build all aspects of a local community’s development.
This is a balanced approach; social justice requires action and attention today, but these actions cannot be at the expense of efficiency in the long term, which is what will ultimately allow the government to create a rural economy that is capable of meeting the administrative demands placed on it.
The fact that the cabinet has approved raises is unequivocal proof that the government is paying attention to the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir.
