New Delhi: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that after October 31 benefits for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be beyond the imagination of people living there and would be realised, one by one, as things unfold.
Singh was addressing a BJP public meeting and said that Article 370 had blocked not only the development and growth at par with other parts of the country but it also created such a subdued public psyche that three generations got conditioned to reconcile and live with their fate, while enormous opportunities were availed by people in the rest of India.
Union Home Ministry has announced an immediate payment of Rs.4,800 crore to government employees as per the 7th Central Pay Commission allowances. In J&K, where a majority of the population is dependent on government sources of income, he said, it is a huge and unbelievable relief to be provided lifelong healthcare cover, allowance for children’s education, allowance for children’s hostel accommodation, allowance for transport, Leave Travel Concession (LTC) etc.
While the first installment of the central grant of Rs 20 to 30 lakh each has already reached many of the Panchayats which earlier did not receive even a fraction of this amount, Dr Jitendra Singh said, at the social level, laws like Dowry Act, Child Marriage Act are going to be applicable.