745 Crore Relief Package For J&K
745 Crore Relief Package For J&K: Fraction of What The State Needs, Says National Conference
PM Narendra Modi spent a working Diwali at Jammu & Kashmir, meeting the troops and visiting the capital city of this Indian state, Srinagar which had been devastated by massive floods recently. Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Siachen in 10 years. The floods are said to be the worst this state has seen in 100 years. The PM announced a INR 745 crore relief package, and members of the ruling National Conference said this is just a fraction of what the flood stricken state needed for its rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery. Hundreds of people died and thousands of villages faced devastation following deadly floods in the Kashmir Valley. The valley is already troubled because of separatist conflicts and its majority population comprises members of the Muslim community.
The PM announced 5.7 billion rupees in assistance for housing and 1.8 billion rupees for repairing 6 major hospitals in the state which are in need of support and reconstruction, a government statement announced. "India shares the grief of Jammu and Kashmir. The government stands with the people in rehabilitation efforts," Modi was quoted by the media as saying.
The first round of central assistance of 10 billion rupees for the state was announced last month. The current relief package is a fraction of what the state needs, say the people stricken by the floods, in a Reuters report. The state government had indicated it needed 150 billion rupees for 350,000 structures including more than 250,000 houses which have been damaged by the floods.
National Conference leader Mehboob Beg reportedly told NDTV, "A hostile winter is knocking at the door. The people of Kashmir had expected a lot from the Prime Minister, now imagine what are they getting in return. The state government asked for 45,000 crore and got only 750 crore. I don't know how to respond to this."
"The reason why Mr Modi had to make that outreach is that he got feedback that there is great resentment against the state government and there was absolutely no trust," BJP spokesperson Sanjay Kaul was quoted as saying adding, "I am glad that the chief minister was at least graceful enough to admit that. I am surprised at what the spokesperson is saying."
Around 300 people died and more than 1.5 million people were affected by the floods and massive assistance is needed for the reconstruction and rebuilding of the state. If timely steps are not taken, it is the people who will ultimately suffer. More coordination and understanding is needed between the Centre and the State for coping with the tragic aftermath of these floods.
At Siachen, the Prime Minister told the jawans, "You make it possible for 125 crore Indians to celebrate Diwali happily. Your dreams and responsibilities are the responsibility of us all. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with you."
He also said, "If you don't see this glacier you can't imagine under what hostile weather and circumstance our jawans are serving the motherland."
