Khour, Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Raman Bhalla on Sunday said that continued delay in the restoration of statehood and elections to grassroots democratic institutions is adversely affecting governance and public welfare in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bhalla made the remarks while presiding over a meeting held at Khour under the Congress party’s Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan. The programme was organised by Neeraj Kundan.
Among those present were Ved Mahajan, Vinod Sharma, Virinder Manhas, Ashok Bhagat, Iqbal Dar, Vajayant Pathania, Vijay Choudhary, Ramesh Verma, Mangal Bral, Ashok Sharma, Abishek Sharma, Subash Sharma, Madan Lal, Yash Paul, Dewan Chand and Sumit Sharma, among others.
Addressing party workers and local residents, Bhalla said the restoration of full statehood is closely linked with democratic accountability, administrative efficiency and effective governance.
“Statehood is not merely a political demand. It is connected with better governance, accelerated development and timely resolution of public grievances,” he said, adding that many people feel pressing local issues are not receiving adequate attention due to the absence of a fully empowered state government.
The Congress leader also expressed concern over the delay in elections to Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies and other grassroots institutions. He said local self-governance plays a crucial role in identifying development priorities, monitoring projects and ensuring accountability in public service delivery.
“Democracy becomes meaningful only when power reaches the grassroots and people actively participate in decision-making,” he said.
Bhalla reiterated Congress support for the regularisation of daily wagers, casual labourers, need-based workers, contractual employees and other temporary workers, stating that many have served for decades without job security.
He urged the government to formulate a comprehensive and time-bound regularisation policy, describing the issue as one of social and economic justice.
The Congress leader also highlighted staff shortages in schools, colleges, healthcare institutions and government departments. He said educational institutions, particularly in rural areas, continue to suffer from inadequate teaching staff, affecting the quality of education and limiting opportunities for students.
Calling for immediate recruitment drives, Bhalla said filling vacant posts would strengthen governance and create employment opportunities for youth.
He also raised concerns about shortages of doctors, specialists, paramedical staff and support personnel in hospitals and health centres, particularly in remote areas, stating that these deficiencies adversely affect patient care.
Referring to civic issues, Bhalla said inadequate drinking water supply and unscheduled power cuts continue to create hardships for people in both urban and rural areas. He called for upgrading water supply schemes, strengthening distribution networks and modernising power infrastructure to meet growing public demand.
The Congress leader further cited unemployment, inflation, infrastructure deficiencies, declining purchasing power and challenges faced by farmers, traders and small entrepreneurs as key issues affecting the public.
Highlighting the objectives of the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, Bhalla said the campaign aims to build a stronger grassroots organisation capable of effectively articulating public concerns and ensuring that people’s issues receive priority.
“Our objective is not merely organisational expansion but winning public trust through public service. Congress will continue to work for statehood restoration, grassroots democracy, employment generation, social justice and accountable governance,” he said.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to farmers, labourers, employees, youth, women, traders, border residents and other vulnerable sections, and said Congress would continue to raise their concerns until they are addressed.
Party leaders and workers present at the meeting also pledged to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level and intensify efforts to protect public interests across Jammu and Kashmir.
