DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Jan 4
In a significant meeting held at the Civil Secretariat, a delegation from the Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), led by its Chairman Th Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister, engaged in a constructive dialogue with Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo to address pressing concerns and advocate for the welfare of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation comprised of distinguished members including Col Karan Singh (Retd.), Vice President DSS, Maj. Gen. Sunita Kapoor (Retd.) VSM, Convener DSS Mahila Wing, Sh G A Khwaja (Retd.), Additional General Secretary DSS, Mr. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak (I/C Youth Wing DSS), Sh Jagdeep Singh, Sh Chhankar Singh, Sh Chhatter Singh, Sh Ravi Singh, Sh Sardar Singh Numberdar, Sh Dharam Chand, Sh Ravinder Singh Amn (Retd) Secretary JKAACL, and Sh. Baldev Singh Numberdar.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed their appreciation for the abolition of the Darbar move and proposed measures to strengthen the functioning of the Civil Secretariat in both Jammu and Srinagar. The Sabha also highlighted key issues for the Chief Secretary’s attention.
The Sabha welcomed the abolition the practice of Darbar move & desired to further strengthen the working of Civil Secretariat both at Jammu & Srinagar.
The Sabha briefed the Chief Secretary about the Constitution of the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society & its working with regard to the restoration of Mubarak Mandi Complex & requested the chief Secretary to examine the progress on its work & expedite the conservation of project to restore its pristine glory of Dogra Heritage Treasure on war footing without converting its any portion into hotel etc. It was also requested that the complex be opened for the public to visit the site & see the progress. They also suggested that the light & sound program should be started to showcase the creation of this Historical state by the valiant Dogra rulers.
The Sabha also desired to start “Duggar Channel” on the lines of “Kashir Channel” to promote Dogra Culture in D D Kendra Jammu with the specific purpose of countering the propaganda from across the border as whole of the population of POJK is Dogri speaking.
The DSS also stressed for protection & maintanence of Irrigation Canals with the specific request to declare the Ranbir Canal as the Heritage site on the lines of Sabarmati River front in Gujrat.
It is also stressed that the Sarore Toll plaza should be relocated as per the National norms which is 60 km distance between the two toll plazas whereas, the distance between Sarore & toll plaza at Bann is hardly 40-45 kms. The Sabha requested to relocate the Sarore toll plaza so as to maintain a distance of 60 km.
Due to un planned earth work of four laning of Nationbal Highway 44 between Jammu & Srinagar, the Ramban section of the Highway has endangered the soil in the absence of Sufficient protection wall & Muck Mismanagement. The environment is threatened & the areas have become more landslide and erosion prone. About 300 houses have got damaged in the process and the people were forced to shift to rented accommodation. The Sabha stressed for addressing the issue to save the general public from colossal losses.
The Members also stressed for Including the Dogra Sadar Sabha Bhawan which is more than 100 years old Heritage in the Smart City project for its upgradation & Improvement.
The Numberdar’s & Chowkidar’s Issues were also taken up by the delegation .It was brought to the notice of Chief Secretary that the experienced & professional hands had been dismissed irrationally & raw handed young men are being appointed in their places which is wrong & demanded that these grass roots institutions should be properly strengthened.
They also demanded that the road runs from the front gates of the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, lies closed for the public to their utter discomfort, for security reasons. This blockade has divided the old Jammu city into two halves, thereby putting the students, the old people especially the mourners while taking the dead bodies of their loved ones for Cremation at Jogi Gate & the tourists in Jammu city to great inconvenience.
Jammu festival in Jammu division was started on the initiative of Dogra Sadar Sabha, after a vigorous struggle in 1994, with the installation of statue of Raja Jambulochan. Similar festivals are being regularly held in Kashmir and Ladakh, but in recent years, Jammu has been ignored and only a token and customary programme is being held.
Dogra Sadar Sabha, Jammu and Kashmir hails the establishment of Martyrs Memorial as “Balidaan Stambh”, at Pratap Park, commemorating the fallen jawans of security forces. However, they demanded establishment of a befitting War Memorial at Dal Lake, Srinagar for the thousands of valiant Jawans of Indian Army who laid down their lives to protect the life and honour of Kashmiri people.
There is a need to Strengthen School and College Infrastructure and Streamline Education Mechanism in the UT at Par with the Aims and Objectives of New National Education Policy 2020.
DSS notes with satisfaction that the decision of the government that all subjects in schools and colleges will be taught in mother tongue. However, it is desired that expeditious steps must be taken to strengthen infrastructure like proper Classrooms, books and educators to teach the students in their mother tongue.
Talab situated at Vill Badhori Tehsil Bari Brahmna District Samba be renamed as Gen Baj Singh Sarovar & handing over the adjoining park to the department of parks & gardens for its maintenance and renaming of High School Badhori as Gen Baj Singh Memorial High School.
