Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday inaugurated an industrial unit in Akhnoor today and felicitated the owner Madan Lal Ji on establishing the venture.
Among others Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta, Central Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra senior leaders Babu Rampaul, Brij Mohan Sharma, YNC Provincial President Jammu Ajaz Jan, Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli, Dr. Gafoor, Kuldeep Kour, Vijay Laxmi Dutta were also present on the occasion.
The party president felicitated the owner for coming up with the venture hoping that the educated youth take a lead from the project and come up with their own ventures. A major benefit of establishing factories and other private enterprises, he said, is that it helps to create more employment opportunities. “It is a promising alternative to government jobs, which are scarce these days. The lack of jobs among young people has consequences on their health, well-being, esteem, and future.”
“Coming up with one’s own small ventures will help increase employability. Successful entrepreneurs can be young adults or older, there is always the chance for young entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful businesses. There is no age bar to materialize one’s dreams. I hope the venture established by Madan Lal Ji enthuses young aspiring youth to unlock their income generation, job creation, and economic growth. My best wishes to Madan Lal Ji and his entire management,” he said.
He also said that forces that are posing a threat to unity in the country are unacceptable to people. “The communal agenda of these forces pose a grave threat not just to our unity but our developmental prospects. In today’s globalized world, there is no scope for such hatred. No society can dream of growing if it is plagued by the pest of communalism. Jammu people have historically been accommodative, their commitment towards unity and brotherhood remains unparalleled. The need of the hour calls for strengthening it and protecting it from forces that are hellbent to destroy it. We in our party are committed to protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s diversity,” he said.
Earlier, the party president met a delegation from Kishtwar that had called on him at his Jammu residence. Dr Farooq was all ears to the issues raised by the visiting delegation.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah castigated the administration for turning deaf ear to the woes of fire victims from Paddar where a massive fire gutted their dwelling in the intervening night of 27-28 Oct.
Expressing concern over the slack attitude of the government in ensuring timely relief and compensation to the more than a dozen fire-affected families of Chag, Gandhari, Paddar, Dr. Farooq said, “It has been a month since the fateful incident, so far the victims haven’t got any compensation and relief. The victims are entitled to financial relief under various Central and UT sector welfare schemes. These victim families have been pushed to penury due to the killer fire. The very idea of compensation is defeated if it is not paid on time. Hopefully, the government prioritises the disbursal of funds to the affected families.”
He further added that the government must provide free ration to families for six months and make adequate arrangements for their stay in these winter months.
