Shamsher calls for quick relief amid growing public distress

• Calls for immediate relief to youth, employees, farmers, traders and marginalised sections across J&K

JAMMU: AICC Member and Bharat Yatri Shamsher Chand today expressed serious concern over the mounting public grievances across Jammu and Kashmir, urging the Omar Abdullah-led J&K UT Government to take immediate and concrete steps to provide long-awaited relief to various sections of society.Addressing media persons, Shamsher Chand said that people from different walks of life — youth, daily wagers, farmers, small traders, employees and pensioners — have been waiting for years for their genuine issues to be addressed. “The growing frustration among the public reflects administrative apathy and lack of timely intervention. The government must do the needful without further delay,” he asserted.

Highlighting unemployment as one of the most pressing concerns, the senior Congress leader said educated youth are grappling with joblessness, delayed recruitment processes, and uncertainty in government examinations. He demanded fast-tracking of pending recruitment drives, transparent selection procedures, and filling up of vacant posts across departments. “The future of J&K lies in empowering its youth. Prolonged delays in recruitment not only erode trust but also push young minds towards despair,” he remarked.

Shamsher Chand also raised the issue of daily wagers, casual labourers, and contractual employees who have been demanding regularization and fair wages for a long time. He urged the government to frame a comprehensive policy to address their grievances and ensure job security and timely payment of wages. “Thousands of families dependent on meagre honorariums are struggling to make ends meet amid rising inflation,” he said. Referring to the burden of escalating prices of essential commodities, electricity tariffs, and fuel costs, he said the common man is finding it increasingly difficult to sustain household expenses. He called for targeted relief measures and stronger market regulation to protect consumers.

Shamsher Chand underlined the concerns of farmers and horticulturists facing erratic weather conditions, inadequate compensation for crop losses, and marketing challenges. He demanded timely compensation for losses, improved irrigation facilities, and assured procurement mechanisms to safeguard farmers’ interests. Pointing to frequent power outages, inadequate drinking water supply, and slow pace of developmental works in rural and urban areas, he said basic civic amenities must be prioritized. “People cannot be made to suffer due to administrative inefficiencies,” he added.

Calling for accountable governance, Shamsher Chand said the Omar-led administration must adopt a proactive approach, hold regular grievance redressal camps, and ensure that departments respond effectively to public complaints. He emphasized that restoring public confidence requires sensitivity, transparency, and time-bound action. “Governance is not merely about announcements; it is about delivering justice and relief to the people who have reposed faith in the system,” he said. The AICC leader urged the government to immediately review all pending public demands and announce a concrete roadmap to resolve long-standing issues, asserting that responsive governance is the need of the hour in Jammu and Kashmir.