DSS Demands heritage status for Ranbir Canal and strengthening of Numberdar / Chowkidar Institution

Bishnah, Jammu, August 19. Former Cabinet Minister and the President of Dogra Sadar Sabha, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, (DSS), Th. Gulchain Singh Charak   reminded the government about various specific demands of the Sabha that have been regularly projected and rightfully highlighted time and again, but remain awaiting fruitful response and appropriate action from the government till date.

Speaking to a large gathering of its members  including Sarpanch, Panches, Numberdars/Chowkidars and prominent residents of Bishnah and surrounding areas, Shri Charak said that people, by and large, continued to have faith and confidence in the Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, living up to his image of ‘vikas purush’, but the increasingly indifferent attitude of his administration towards sentiments of Jammuites is rapidly weaning away a large section of the masses from the euphoric anticipation that this administration had aroused during its initial years.

Shri Charak cautioned the government that voices were now being heard that Jammu people and their heritage and culture are being given a step-motherly treatment by this government as well after facing the brunt from earlier Kashmir centric governments. Shri Charak impressed upon the governments at the central and the UT level to restore the confidence of Jammuites urgently before it is late.

Referring to the oft-repeated, symbolic but serious, interventions required from the government to restore Dogra pride, Shri Charak, on behalf of the Dogra Sadar Sabha appealed to the government headed by Shrri Manoj Sinha to take note of the following demands and take appropriate steps to redress these immediately:

1. Reports of tampering with the original character of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex were taken with a heavy heart. The process of conversion of Rani Charaki palace at Mubarak Mandi, Jammu into a hotel was strongly condemned being against the standard norms of State Protected Monuments. The plan to shift invaluable archives from here to elsewhere was deplored and it was insisted that the archives which are the soul of this historic monument should not be shifted out of this place complex. Special appeal was made to the government to see that the heritage monuments of Jammu region are revived and conserved for cultural, historical, religious, research and academic tourism and employment generation. “Essence of heritage shouldn’t be lost in the process,” the participants demanded. It was emphasized that the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex be restored on war footings, kept open for visiting tourists and no portion of the palace be converted into commercial property.

Dogra Art Museum, archives and records be properly preserved and displayed, it was stressed.

2. It was pointed out that annual cleaning, desilting and maintenance of Ranbir Canaland its distributaries for ensuring proper irrigation to the tail-end farms continues to be a serious issue for the farmers and ecologists. Participants demanded that Ranbir Canal be declared a state heritage and better scientific methods on the lines of canals maintained in Gujarat with Solar light paneling be adopted for its upkeep. Revival of the over one hundred year old Power Generation Plant at the Canal, Jammu for educational and heritage purposes was also demanded.
3. Shri Charak maintained that for peace and to ensure safety of lives and livelihood of people in rural areas, the institution of  Numberdars/ Chowkidarsprovides the most effective services to common masses. It is imperative to duly empower them and fulfill their genuine and long pending demands that include raising the monthly remuneration (honorarium) from the existing paltry sum of Rs. 1501 and Rs. 1500 respectively to at least Rs. 9000 per month, comparable with the minimum of Rs. 300 per day, they being involved in important round the clock government work.
4. Effective mechanism was demanded to check the drug menacewhich is spreading even amongst the school going children including the girl students. Role of unscrupulous elements from the neighbouring Pakistan could not be denied, the participants said.
5. Referring to public resentment over installation of smart meters for electricity consumption and high rates and numerous toll plazas on the highways, the participants expressed no aversion to technology, but asked the government to adopt a rational and pro people’s approach that doesn’t burden the poor who are already suffering because of high cost of living.
6. Government was once again asked to urgently heed to its demand for issue of Dogra Certificatein favour of the community members which grants due relaxation in matters of height of the candidates during recruitment to armed forces, etc. It was emphasized that the valorous Dogra youth had proved their mettle in defending the nation time and again and the Certificate would facilitate the eligible in seeking employment in the field of their choice to serve the motherland.

Prominent among those who expressed their views in the meeting were Ghambir Dev Singh Charak I/c Youth wing DSS, Madan Bhagat, Dr Raghbir Singh, Dr. S.K Dingra, Surinder Singh, Baldev Raj Numberdar, Khajan Chand, Maher Singh, Avtar Singh Numberdar, Sohan Singh, Baldev Jandial, Master Balwant Saini, N/Sarpanch Kimti Lal, Sewa Ram and other.