Jammu
National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Saturday exhorted party district presidents of the Jammu Province to work as ‘eyes and ears’ in the larger interest of the people for seeking redressal to their problems, which are innumerable and have accumulated manifold in the wake of the extraordinary and unprecedented situation unfolded by an unfortunate global pandemic.
In a two-hour interaction with district presidents through video conferencing, the Provincial President said the COVID-19 has completely driven normal life out of gear, resulting in a challenging situation for every segment of society, irrespective of age, gender and economic status. However, the poorer are suffering the most, which perhaps need best of the attention of both, the administration as also the society. He said this is perhaps the time to demonstrate love, compassion and camaraderie, the essence of every religion, by shouldering the onerous responsibility of making lives of those around easier in these difficult situations.
Those who participated in the video conferencing included district presidents Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy of Doda, Tanveer Ahmed Kitchloo of Kishtwar, Babu Jagjeevan Lal of Reasi, Sajjad Shaheen of Ramban, Bhushan Uppal of Rajouri Rural, Romy Khajuria , Sunil Verma, Ajit Kumar, Shafayat Khan, Dr Shamshad Shan, Som Nath Khajuria, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Naresh Bittu and S. Surinder Singh Bunty.
Rana invoked the historic role of National Conference in most testing times since its inception and hoped the functionaries will rise to the occasion by showing the same spirit in projecting problems of the people at designated forums through whatever mode of communication available, and of course by maintaining the mandatory protocol of social distancing strictly. This is all the more important in the absence of representative leadership, he said, adding that the workers and functionaries at grass roots level will fill the vacuum and knock every door ensure problems solved.
Referring to the miseries of daily earners, labourers and other poor sections of society, the Provincial President urged the district presidents to ensure that the benefits announced by the administration reach everyone. “We have to ensure that nobody sleeps hungry or struggles for medical attention”, he said, hoping that the hardships of commoners would be taken up with concerned agencies and action taken monitored. Wherever needed, the foot soldiers of National Conference will not be found wanting in extending help to the frontline warriors engaged in defeating the virus, he said.
Rana also referred to the worries of stranded people, including students, patients, labourers and workers, and urged the district presidents to gather all necessary information so that the administration is assisted in arranging their safe return. Though some initiatives have already put in place yet more is needed to be done, keeping in view the magnitude of the problem, he added.
The Provincial President shared the concern of the district presidents about impediments being faced by students pursuing online academics due to slow internet speed and hoped that the administration will take a call on this issue in the larger interest of the student community. He reiterated that necessary checks and balances can be put in place to check misuse of 4G internet, saying denial of the facility is not justified if the administration is really serious about the education of students.
Rana and the participating district presidents placed on record their appreciation for the heroic role being played by frontline warriors including medicos, paramedics, police, security forces, civic staff, essential commodities providers and all those engaged in steering out the people out of the present crisis like situation.
The Provincial President also conveyed good wishes of the President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah to the people and the party workers and functionaries.
