Provincial President of the National Conference, Adv Rattan Lal Gupta, today stressed the need to ensure economic emancipation and political empowerment of the weaker sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that Marginalized segments deserve priority attention to alleviate their legitimate grievances.

Addressing the prominent officials and workers of the NC OBC cell in Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here this afternoon, Adv Gupta also urged for sympathetic consideration by the government the streamlining of the grade certificate issuance process, making it unique and increasing the criteria of cream layer slab.

“The BJP has ignored the legitimate demands of the CBOs, which will be rejected tooth and nail,” he said, adding that the marginalized population should not be subjected to political convenience.

Addressing the assembly, the co-chair of the OBC cell, Mr. Abdul Gani Teli, lambasted the administration for neglecting the aspirations of unemployed youth and the weaker sections of society and declared perpetual delays in the timely release of wages for different categories of workers in addition to not providing financial assistance to categorized segments of the population have resulted in unimaginable miseries and a general atmosphere of vulnerability and scarcity. It also demanded the implementation of a 27 percent quota as has been adopted in several other states in the country.

The Co-Chair called for the appointment of members of OBC communities to various district development councils / corporations and expressed concern about the lack of funds for CBO social assistance schemes within the SC / ST / OBC Development Financial Corporation, claiming that this has retarded the momentum of welfare initiatives. .

He enumerated the measures initiated under the previous government led by Mr. Omar Abdullah to improve the lot of sections of the CBO among others and blasted the current exemption for having put all these initiatives on hold.

On this occasion, the speakers raised several questions and problems of the weakest sections, in particular the CBOs.

Responding to questions raised by weaker sections, Provincial President Gupta said these will be dealt with at the appropriate level for speedy redress.