It is good that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced five marlas land at a new location for the people whose land has sunk or is sinking damaging their houses and structures following heavy rains.
The promise part of this gamut is alright but what is important is the implementation of what is being promised and trumpeted because people in J&K had a bad experience in the past also when the government promised five marla plots for the victims of unprovoked firing by the rogue country Pakistan, as many among those are still awaiting the fulfilment of that promise.
The chief minister has said that several people have been affected due to sinking of land and therefore allotment of land and construction of at least two rooms under different Government schemes for the affected people has to be done before onset of winters as people can’t be kept in tents in extreme cold. This seems to be serious talk by the chief minister but to see the things taking the concrete shape will take time and until things don’t change on ground nothing could be said about this welcome proposal as many times in the past such promises were made but never fulfilled.
Although reports have been confirming that the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to draft proposal for allotment of five marlas land to the people whose houses have sunk or are sinking, at some alternate area, which means that government this time is sincerely pursuing the matter but till the time the plots would be given and funds are released for the construction the people will continue to suffer. Promises alone cannot provide succour to the affected people from the biting cold or give them the security they desperately need.
All said and done, the need of the hour is that the government should bring change on ground rather than indulging in rhetoric and ensure that this time, words are followed by action. The pain of those still waiting from earlier commitments should serve as a reminder that delays only deepen mistrust. Let this not become another forgotten assurance. What the affected families need is not just hope, but a safe home.
