Jammu, 05 January (H.S.): Former minister and senior BJP leader, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today described the financial assistance of Rs 1430 crores, sanctioned by the Centre to the Jammu and Kashmir as a timely and crucial step towards relief and rehabilitation of the rains, flood-hit people.

While expressing gratitude to the Government of India for allocating assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide relief to individuals affected by devastating floods and heavy rains in J&K during August-Sept 2025, the BJP leader said it was the much needed help to the eagerly waiting flood-hit victims here.

Zulfkar stated that unprecedented floods caused massive damage to residential houses, agricultural land, livestock, and public infrastructure, leaving thousands of families in distress across several districts. He described the financial assistance sanctioned by the Centre as crucial step towards relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of flood-hit areas.

He expressed hope that the UT Government in the Jammu and Kashmir would ensure transparent, fair, and judicious utilization of SDRF funds so that relief reaches genuine and deserving beneficiaries at the grassroot level. He stressed that the administration must ensure no affected family is deprived of assistance due to delays, discrimination, or procedural shortcomings.

While appreciating UT Government’s policy decision to allot 5 marlas of land to families whose houses were completely damaged in floods, Zulfkar termed the move as a positive and humane step towards permanent rehabilitation. However, he expressed serious concern over stringent conditions, rigid eligibility criteria, and official bottlenecks attached to the scheme, which may result in many genuinely affected families being declared ineligible.

Former Minister urged the J&K Government to simplify the scheme, relax impractical conditions, and remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles so that benefits reach the affected population in a smooth, transparent, and time-bound manner. He reiterated that responsive governance, administrative sensitivity, and transparency are essential to help flood-affected families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar