Chairman of Border Welfare Organisation, Avinash Choudhary Meets Union Minister Ramdas Athawale
Delhi/Jammu – Chairman of the Border Welfare Organisation, Avinash Choudhary, met the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, at his office in Shastri Bhawan, Delhi. During the meeting, he raised significant issues concerning border villages, particularly the demand to include 14 villages from the Ramgarh sector, district Samba and other villages along the International Border (IB) in the reservation list.
Border Villages Deprived of IB Reservation Benefits for Years
Avinash Choudhary informed Minister Ramdas Athawale that years ago, a plan was introduced to provide reservation benefits to villages affected by unprovoked firing from Pakistan. Despite facing constant threats and hardships, residents of these villages have not yet received the promised benefits. According to the IB reservation criteria, villages within a 6 km aerial distance from the International Border should be included in the reservation list. However, this has not been implemented effectively on the ground, depriving border youth of their rightful benefits.
Issue Raised at Both State and Central Government Levels
Choudhary emphasized that this issue has been brought to the attention of state authorities and central ministers multiple times, but no concrete action has been taken. He recalled that during a past visit by a Union Minister to Jammu and Kashmir, Commissioner Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda, along with other senior officials, was informed about the exclusion of several border villages from the reservation list.
He also pointed out that one of the formal conditions for availing IB reservation benefits was that families with an annual income above ₹8 lakh would be excluded. However, he argued that border shelling does not differentiate based on income, making this criterion irrelevant and unfair. At that time, officials had assured that these formalities would soon be addressed, but no action has been taken so far.
Furthermore, Choudhary informed Minister Athawale that a written request was submitted to the Commissioner Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, demanding the inclusion of excluded villages in the IB reservation list. Acting on this, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Samba to conduct a ground survey, leading to an official report confirming that 14 villages in the samba district were within the six-kilometer range and eligible for reservation benefits. The report was forwarded to the Social Welfare Department. However, despite this, these villages remain excluded, leaving hundreds of families without the benefits they deserve.
State Officials Accused of Negligence
The BWO Chairman alleged that certain officials within the Jammu and Kashmir administration are deliberately preventing central government schemes from reaching the people. He acknowledged the Centre’s sincere efforts to uplift border communities but criticized state authorities for their insensitivity and inefficiency in addressing critical issues. Choudhary urged Minister Athawale to take immediate action to ensure justice for border residents who have been demanding IB reservation for years.
Minister Athawale Assures Resolution
Responding to the concerns, Minister Ramdas Athawale assured Avinash Choudhary that swift action would be taken. He immediately contacted the relevant department officials and issued written directives to include all eligible villages within six kilometers of the border in the IB reservation list. Additionally, he instructed that the 14 villages identified by the DC Samba report be added without delay and that the ₹8 lakh income criterion be removed to ensure seamless access to reservation benefits.
Minister Athawale reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir’s people and pledged to rectify any administrative lapses hindering the implementation of welfare schemes.
Avinash Choudhary expressed his gratitude to Minister Ramdas Athawale for addressing this pressing issue and taking steps toward resolving the long-pending demands of border residents.
