It was really a surprise announcement by the deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who while highlighting the need for long-term solutions has promised the allocation of five marla plots on stable land to the flood affected families, subject to feasibility tests by the department of geology and mining.
Although, the promise made by the Deputy CM is no doubt philanthropic and bountiful but looking at the previous records of the governments, the probability of fulfillment of such assurances is not much promising as the term ‘five marla’ reminds about the promise made earlier by the centre to provide plots to border dwellers in Jammu region, who were facing hardships due to frequent unprovoked firing from across the border.
It is necessary that the people in distress due to recent flash floods and landslides should be provided alternate land chunks to lead a safe life but how the things will take shape in the coming days really matters because taking the fate of the promise of five-marla plots to border dwellers into consideration, many doubts come into mind as this new promise by the helmsman is like promising stars and the moon for the people in distress.
All said and done, the announcement in the present context is full of buoyancy especially for the section of people who have lost their hearth and belongings in this crisis but as mentioned earlier, similar promises made to border residents in the past were never kept and that is why this time also minds of the stakeholders are full of doubts. It is expected that before making such promises, the DyCM would have consulted the concerned quarters because promises no matter how well-intentioned, should be backed by action.
In this case, if the promise made by the DyCM will be left unfulfilled the chances of alienation of the electorate are rife especially for the party being represented by him therefore he has to ensure that the words shared in the public should be given true meaning and the people in need get what they deserve.
