People tell Omar about financial mess due to hartal

M I Jehangir
Srinagar, May 25 (PTI) Chief Minister of north
Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, was
swamped with pleas seeking financial assistance or waiver of
loans at his "Open House" Wednesday reflecting the harsh
impact of the frequent strikes and unrest on the common man
during the past one decade in the state.
A young man from downtown Srinagar said the interest
burden on his loan was mounting at such a pace that he was
unable to make payments in time.
"If only the interest is waived and the situation does
not turn ugly again, I may be able to start afresh," the
youth, who did not want to be named, told reporters.
Omar has been patiently listening to the woes of people
which mainly revolve around growing financial crises despite J
and K having the lowest below the poverty line population in
the country.
The strike culture has taken its toll on the livelihood
of the people, especially those directly or indirectly
connected with tourism, says Omar.
"The shikarawallahs, the hoteliers and those working in
the hotels, taxi operators, tour operators and handicraft
dealers were badly affected as they lost peak season of their
work to strikes," he said.
The Chief Minister said the fall out of the turmoil of
mainly of last three years was now coming to the fore as his
office was getting lot of applications for financial
assistance.
The pinch caused by the unrest over the past three years
on the financial condition of Kashmiris is being felt by
many families, especially from Srinagar, as they are not
able to cope up with the rising cost of living.
Abdul Hamid, from Zainakadal area of Srinagar, is one
of the hundreds of people who have assembled outside Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah’s private office in the hope of getting
their problems redressed at his weekly "Awami Mulakat" (Open
House).
Hamid is suffering from several ailments and is unable
to afford Rs 500 he needs every week for buying medicines.
"I was working in a private company but they closed down their
operations following turmoil in Kashmir over the past three
years.
"Now, I do odd jobs to support my family but earnings
are not enough," says Hamid during his meeting with the Chief
Minister, who was quick to give an assurance of providing some
assistance.
An elderly man from Pulwama district in south Kashmir,
who did not wish to be named, is suffering from heart ailment
and needs a pacemaker. He does not have money to pay for it.
"I have two young unmarried daughters. Unless there is
help coming from the Chief Minister, I will have to choose
between living and getting my daughters married as my savings
can only sustain one of the two," he said.
Many people have turned to Omar for jobs but he
suggested they get in touch with autonomous state institutions
which make recruitments in a ransparent and fair manner.