Sopore: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Sunday said the alleged regional imbalance in the issuance of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) certificates must be examined to ensure that no section of society faces injustice, while also stating that efforts are underway to facilitate the use of the Kashmiri language in the Assembly.
Speaking to reporters in Sopore, Rather said he had directed the government to look into concerns regarding disparities in the issuance of EWS certificates and identify areas where corrective measures may be required.
“The matter needs to be seriously examined so that no section of society suffers any injustice,” he said, adding that the government has been asked to review the issue wherever there is scope for improvement.
The issue had figured prominently during the recent Autumn Session of the Legislative Assembly when Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone raised a Calling Attention Motion alleging regional disparities in the issuance of EWS certificates and sought measures to ensure equitable access to benefits available under the category.
Addressing another issue, Rather said the government was working on a mechanism to facilitate the use of the Kashmiri language in Assembly proceedings, acknowledging that the absence of translators currently poses a challenge.
“The government has to look into many aspects. At present, we do not have translators in the Assembly, which often becomes a hurdle for members wishing to speak in Kashmiri. Efforts are on to address this concern in the future,” he said.
Clarifying reports surrounding the issue, Rather said he had not prevented any legislator from speaking in Kashmiri during the recent session.
“I told those who wished to speak in Kashmiri that they could do so, but their remarks could not be recorded because there is no translator available in the Assembly at present,” he said.
The issue came to the fore during the recently concluded Assembly session when a legislator was informed that his remarks in Kashmiri could not be officially recorded in the absence of translation facilities.
Rather was speaking on the sidelines of ‘Youm-e-Meeras’, a programme organised in Sopore to commemorate the contribution of late Atiqa Bano through the Meeras Mahal Museum.
