JAMMU, Sep 14: Strongly condemning the inhuman, insensitive and anti-poor approach of the National Conference-Congress coalition government, the BJP on Monday demanded immediate, comprehensive and time-bound rehabilitation besides monthly compensation to the shopkeepers whose establishments were demolished in Nai Basti and Satwari areas of Jammu.
J&K BJP spokesperson Zorawar Singh Jamwal said the demolition of their shops had not only deprived them of their source of livelihood but had also pushed their families into uncertainty at a time when the festive season was approaching.
He expressed serious concern over the manner in which the demolition exercise was carried out, alleging that the authorities had failed to formulate and implement a proper rehabilitation plan before displacing the traders. He said that for small shopkeepers, a commercial establishment is not merely a physical structure but the principal source of income for their entire family.
Zorawar Singh Jamwal said the rehabilitation of the Nai Basti and Satwari shopkeepers could become a model for the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, demonstrating that enforcement of laws and development activities can be carried out without abandoning vulnerable sections whose livelihoods are directly affected.
“Rehabilitation should not mean simply allotting an alternative piece of land at a remote or inaccessible location. The purpose of rehabilitation is to restore the livelihood of the affected people. The new location must have adequate public transport, road connectivity, parking facilities, pedestrian movement and sufficient commercial activity so that these shopkeepers have a realistic opportunity to rebuild their businesses,” Zorawar Singh said.
The BJP spokesperson also stressed that the authorities should take into account the commercial potential and customer accessibility of the proposed rehabilitation site. He said the affected traders should not be compelled to start afresh in an area where there is little or no customer footfall.
He further demanded that the rehabilitation policy should cover every genuinely affected shopkeeper after proper verification, irrespective of whether an individual possesses complete formal documentation or faces deficiencies in paperwork. He said genuine cases should be examined sympathetically and no family that has been dependent upon the demolished establishments for its livelihood should be arbitrarily excluded from the rehabilitation process.
He also called for a rehabilitation site that remains commercially active during the evening hours and has adequate night-time activity. He said that simply providing shops in a location that becomes deserted after sunset would severely restrict the ability of traders to attract customers and sustain their businesses.
The BJP leader demanded that the entire rehabilitation process be completed within a strictly time-bound framework, with responsibility fixed on the concerned departments for delays. He said the affected shopkeepers should be kept informed about every stage of the process, including identification of the site, allotment of shops, eligibility criteria and the expected timeline for shifting.