Education backbone of society needs focused attention: Saroori

Demanded sanctioning of GDC for Bunjwah, Kahara and Padder areas; Sought creation of R&B Division Thathri

Staged walkout from the House

JAMMU, JANUARY 30: - Senior Congress lawmaker from Inderwal G.M Saroori termed Education as the 'backbone of society'. He stressed the need for focused attention on education sector and then the fortune of poor people can change thereby ushering their lives with a new era prosperity and happiness.

While speaking in the legislative Assembly, Saroori recalled the urgency in undergoing a major overhaul in education sector and major revolutionary steps which are the need of hour in order to revive the lost glory of vital sector. Education sector can't be undermined as education is the only way through which poverty can be eradicated.

Saroori said that centrally sponsored schemes like RAMSA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan could have been a boon for education field but government has failed to implement such schemes properly. Such innovative schemes could have changed the fortune of state but the poor implementation has led it to be a failure. There should be the provision of compensation in centrally sponsored schemes so that it could be utilized fully in fruitful way. He called for posting of Urdu teachers in educational institutions of Chenab Valley in general and Inderwal constituency in particular, besides introduction of Kashmiri subject up to secondary level. He also demanded that the vacant posts of teacher, junior assistants should be filled up on fast track basis.

He also raised many issues of public importance which include; completion of school buildings, regularization of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers and other central sponsor scheme employees working under education department, early release of pending salary of teachers and disposal of new ReT cases in time bound manner which is pending since long. He also demanded Government Degree College for Bunjwah, Kahara and Padder areas in order to mitigate the increasing demand and to lessen the dropouts, sorted the need for introduction of Kashmiri, Dogri and Persian subjects at elementary level, starting up of more subjects at GDC Kishtwar, Chatroo, Thathri and Kilhotran, early construction of KGBV, College buildings. Up gradation of 800 schools to the next level which were announced by previous government, cabinet orders should be implemented with letter and spirit.

Earlier Mr. Saroori staged a walkout from the House over "unsatisfactory reply" to his supplementary question by Tribal Affairs Minister Choudhary Zulfikar Ali for not sanctioning ST model village in Sarthal area. "People of my constituency (Inderwal in Kishtwar district) are denied basic facilities like roads, water and electricity," he said before walking out of the House. Choudhary Zulfikar Ali had responded to the questions related to the tribal population and the steps taken by the state government for the development of the scheduled tribes in Jammu and Kashmir. "The gujjar and bakerwal constitute about 90 per cent of the total Schedule Tribe population of the state and an advisory board is functional for their development. The board is exclusively for Gujjars and Bakerwal communities.

He also demanded revocation of SRO-105 and urged the government to provide industrial estates at Kishtwar and Doda districts to facilitate the establishment of local industries besides facilitating local youth to start their own units. He also urged the government to strengthen and bring accountability and transparency in JAKFED, SIDCO, KVIB, J&K Cements etc. He further said that the government had taken a good step to remove the managing director of the JKPCC but they haven’t elaborated the reference to a certain “lady” in the audio clip who was the alleged beneficiary of the kickbacks. He said that his region was being punished by PWD Minister Naeem Akhtar because he didn’t join Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his request. He urged new road projects under NABARD in far-flung areas of the State including Warwan, Dachan, Chatroo, Thathri, Drabshalla, Bani, Basoli and Sudmahadev. He sought early completion of Dak Banglows, School, Hospital buildings being constructed by the R&B Department in Doda and Kishtwar districts. He further sought the creation of R&B Division Thathri. He also demanded the early release of compensation for fruit trees being cut for construction and upgrading of roads under NABARD, CRF, PMGSY, District Sector and State Sectors in Doda and Kishtwar districts during the last three years.

Saroori said the residents of far flung areas of Kistwar district were receiving 13 kilograms per soul however the government has reduced the quantity to 5 kilograms per soul and urged the government to enhance quantity of the ration for the people living in far flung areas especially tribal community. He also urged the government to provide sugar to consumers of every category in far flung areas and enhance the quantity of Kerosene oil. He also urged the government to establish Sale depots in left out areas of his constituency. He however appreciated the government’s decision to provide three month ration to the consumers in advance in the rural areas. He also called for opening of more mobile schools and regularization of teachers of already existing Mobile schools.