Saroori, Nasir Sogami, G.A Mir, Majid Wani pay homage to Rajiv Gandhi
By Agence India Press,
Srinagar : As a mark of tribute to former Prime Minister of India late Rajiv Gandhi on his 65th birth anniversary, the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand today announced to set up a modern Housing Colony for Leper families at Bahrar here costing Rs 4.19 crore, the colony would be named as Rajiv Gandhi Leper Housing Colony and shall have hundred housing units each comprising of one bed-room, one living room, one kitchen and a bathroom.
Tara Chand drove to Leper Hospital located in downtown Srinagar to spent the day with lepers where he announced government’s plan to construct a housing colony for rehabilitation of lepers adding that funds have already been earmarked and land identified for the purpose. The Housing Colony will be constructed by the Municipal Corporation, Srinagar under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Rural Mission (JNNURM). He said foundation of one such colony at Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu has already been laid by him for rehabilitation of the lepers in Jammu division.
The announcement of Tara Chand about Rajiv Gandhi Leper Housing Colony at Srinagar brought cheer and glow on the faces of the lepers present on the occasion who greeted with claps and thunderous applause.
The Minister for R&B G. M. Saroori, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Nasir Aslam Wani, Legislators, Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Abdul Majid Wani, besides Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Srinagar Khawaja Farooq Renzu and Vice Chairman LAWDA, IrfanYasin accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister.
The Ministers and the legislators also distributed blankets and fruits among the lepers putting up in the Hospital.
While paying glowing tributes to late Rajiv Gandhi, the Deputy Chief Minister recalled his contribution for upliftment of the downtrodden and poorest of the poor in the country adding that Rajiv ji throughout his life relentlessly worked for the welfare of people in distress. Describing Rajiv Gandhi a great visionary and a statesmen par excellence, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the late leader decentralized the power to village level by strengthening the Panchayati Raj system to ensure that benefits of various welfare schemes percolate down at grass root level among the deserving and needy people. He said best way to pay homage to the beloved leader was to help the needy and destitute.
Minister for R&B, G. M. Saroori also paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi and assured that government would provide every required facility to rehabilitate leprosy patients.
Saroori said that the vacuum caused due to demise of Rajiv Ji is still unfilled. He said the party has to take forward the mission which the leader had left for us and appealed party workers to follow the path shown by late Gandhi.
Saroori said that during the tenure of Rajiv ji the State has witnessed all over development, adding for the benefit of the people of the State. Rajiv made several round of talks with his Pak counterpart to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Saroori said that the contribution of late Rajiv Gandhi, would be remembered for years to come as the role he played for betterment of poor was his exemplary service towards nation.
Nasir Aslam Wani while paying tributes to Rajiv Gandhi said that lepers are the human beings who have every right to live with dignity and honour. He said lepers should not feel inferiority complex adding that whole nation was behind them to ensure their wellbeing. He turned nostalgic when he used to visit the Leper Hospital Srinagar during his college days to provide financial assistance to leprosy patients collected for them as donations from students and the people. He thanked Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi for providing huge plan funds for the State adding that a new era of development and prosperity has begun.
The legislators G. A. Mir and Abdul Majid Wani also spoke on the occasion and paid homage to late Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary. They assured inmates of the Leper Hospital that government would take every step for improving their life conditions and fulfill their requirements with regard to housing, bedding and medicines.
The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital informed the Deputy Chief Minister that these were 119 inmates in the leper hospital, who are completely cured of the disease and are being provided every required facilities including nutritious food, and medicines. He said orthopedic specialists, nursing orderlies, barbers and safaiwallas are always available for the service of the lepers in the hospital. He demanded a grant of Rs 4 lakhs for providing bedding facilities to the inmates.