285 villages along LoC under reservation policy

Jammu, Jan 9 (PTI)  About 285 villages along the the Line of Control are covered under reservation policy in the state, Jammu and Kashmir government said today.

285 villages of Rajouri, Nowshera, Mendhar, Haveli, Kupwara and Akhnoor falling under the LoC are availing benefits as per the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 and rules thereto, Minister for Roads and Buildings and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri today informed the House.

J&K Reservation Act, 2004, which is meant for reservation of SC and ST, also provides reservation to students living along the LoC in educational institutions and professional colleges of the state.

Replying to a question by Ajatshatru Singh in the upper house, the Minister said it is a fact that the people residing on the LoC as well as International Border of the state are affected by the firing from across the border and deserve special attention.

Veeri said the people living along the LoC are availing benefits as provided in terms of J&K Reservation Act, 2004 and rules thereunder.

However, he said, at present the International Border does not come within the definition of the LoC and hence the benefits of reservation as provided to residents of LoC are not being extended the residents of the IB.

Responding to supplementary questions by B A Veeri, Surinder Chaudhary, Vibodh Gupta, Qaiser Jamsheed and Ramesh Arora, the Minister said the government has submitted a DPR to Centre for approval of funds for construction of permanent bunkers along the LoC and IB.