Dr Manohar flags rising unemployment, corruption; raises key public issues at Billawar Meet

Billawar,

Dr Manohar flags rising unemployment, corruption; raises key public issues at Billawar Meet

Demands district status for Billawar, regularization of daily wagers, better wages for Anganwadi workers, timely pensions, and restoration of statehood to J&K

Billawar: Former Minister Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma today convened his monthly public meeting at Khajuria Farm, Dharmani in Billawar Constituency, where he raised a wide spectrum of pressing public issues, highlighting their deep and direct impact on the daily lives of people across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

Addressing a large gathering, Dr. Sharma termed the sharp rise in unemployment as one of the most serious challenges facing the region. He noted that the continued lack of job opportunities is not only affecting the economic stability of families but is also creating frustration among educated youth, forcing many towards migration, underemployment, or vulnerability to social evils. He warned that prolonged unemployment can lead to increased crime rates and social unrest if not addressed through targeted employment policies and skill-based initiatives.

Raising concern over corruption, Dr. Sharma said that it has eroded public trust in institutions and delayed the delivery of basic services. He pointed out that corruption at various levels results in deserving beneficiaries being deprived of welfare schemes, while developmental works suffer due to inefficiency and misuse of resources. He called for greater transparency, accountability, and strict monitoring mechanisms to restore confidence among the masses.

Highlighting the growing menace of drug abuse, he described it as a grave threat to the younger generation. He stated that the spread of drugs is destroying families, increasing crime, and weakening the social fabric of society. He urged for stronger enforcement measures, awareness campaigns, and community participation to curb this issue before it escalates further.

On the demand for district status to Billawar, Dr. Sharma explained that the absence of district-level administrative infrastructure forces residents to travel long distances for basic official work, causing inconvenience, financial burden, and delays. Granting district status, he said, would decentralize governance, bring administration closer to the people, and accelerate development in remote areas.

The issue of daily wagers was strongly highlighted, with Dr. Sharma stating that thousands of workers across departments continue to serve without job security or adequate wages. This, he noted, leaves their families in a constant state of financial uncertainty. Regularisation, he asserted, would not only provide stability to these workers but also improve efficiency in government functioning.

He also drew attention to the low honorarium of Anganwadi workers and Self-Help Group (SHG) members, stressing that despite being the backbone of grassroots welfare schemes, they remain underpaid and overburdened. Enhancing their wages, he said, is essential to ensure better implementation of nutrition, health, and rural livelihood programmes.

Expressing concern over delays in pension disbursement, Dr. Sharma said that elderly citizens, widows, and specially-abled persons are among the most vulnerable sections who rely heavily on this financial support for survival. Any delay directly affects their ability to meet basic needs such as food, medicine, and shelter. He demanded a robust and time-bound system to ensure uninterrupted pension delivery.

Reiterating the demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Sharma said that full democratic governance is crucial for addressing local issues effectively. He maintained that elected representation and administrative autonomy are key to ensuring accountability and responsive governance.

The meeting witnessed participation from several prominent political and social figures including Pankaj Dogra Congress District President Kathua , Narinder Khajuria Senior Leader , Paramjeet Singh Pamma Senior Leader , Sohan Lal Sharma (soni) Congress Block President Hirnagar, Romesh Verma Block President Mandli block, Th Bhudhi Singh Block President Block Ramkote,Romal Singh Congress Block President Dugani Block,Raj Kumar Kumblia Rajput Sabha, Mukesh Kumar Ex Sarpanch, Joginder Kumar Ex Sarpanch, Nadeem Ahmed ex Sarpanch, Ram Lal Bhatti Retd Principal, Pardeep Sharm(Bittu),Jia Lal Vidyal ji,Faroz Din Retd Master, Manzoor Ahmed Retd Master, Rafiq Ahmed Retd RO, Isher Dass Sangra,Rattan Tripathi,Ashok Kumar Thripathi,GS Biloria Youth,Rahul Kumar youth, Surinder Thripathi,Anant Ram Retd RO, Dyal Singh Retd Municipality Billawar,Ali Mohd Sheikh,Mast Ram Khajuria, Capt Girdhari Lal, Ganesh Chand Sharma,Shori Lal Sangania,Rajinder Singh Raju,Gian Chand Sharma, Thrith Ram Verma Retd Master, Shankar Singh Retd PHE,Kulbushan Sharma Retd Forester, Bishan Singh, Mulkh Raj Ex Naib Sarpanch,Kaku Ram Tripathi, Bishan Sharma Retd Medical Deptt,Capt Anchal Singh,Dr Tara Chand Verma,Vijay Vidyal Retd Lect,Dev Raj and several former Panchayat representatives, retired officials, youth leaders, and local residents.The gathering concluded with a collective call for responsive governance, inclusive development, and urgent redressal of public grievances to restore confidence among the people.The gathering concluded with a strong collective demand for people-centric policies, timely redressal of grievances, and inclusive development, emphasizing that addressing these core issues is essential to restore public confidence and ensure sustainable progress in the region.