Protest erupts against changes to rural employment Act in IIOJK
BJP’s move to affect livelihoods of rural population: Protesters
Srinagar: Protests erupted in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir as workers of Congress party staged demonstrations in Srinagar and Jammu against New Delhi’s decision to replace Rural Employment Guarantee Act with a newly introduced rural employment scheme.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesters expressed concern that the replacement of the long-standing employment programme with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act could adversely affect the livelihoods of millions of rural residents in the occupied territory. The new law has received presidential assent, formally ending the previous rural employment framework.
In Srinagar, dozens of protesters assembled at their party office and attempted to march towards Maulana Azad Road to register their opposition to the decision. However, police and paramilitary personnel intercepted the march and prevented the demonstrators from proceeding. Despite heavy rain, the protesters continued their peaceful demonstration, chanting slogans against New Delhi’s policy changes.
Addressing the gathering, party leaders said the repeal of the earlier rural employment act would deprive economically weaker sections of a crucial safety net and further aggravate unemployment and poverty in rural areas of the occupied territory. They termed the move unjust and warned that it would disproportionately harm marginalised communities.
A scuffle took place between protesters and police during the demonstration.
Similar protests were held in Jammu, where party leaders and activists voiced apprehensions over the future of rural employment and welfare measures under the revised scheme. Speakers said that any policy affecting livelihoods in the disputed territory should be framed through consultation with local stakeholders rather than imposed unilaterally.
The protesters said demonstrations would continue until the concerns of the rural population are addressed and meaningful safeguards are ensured to protect employment and welfare in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
