Job guarantee scheme rolls out in quake-hit areas

Begum said she had lost all hope after her husband’s death. ‘‘We were living on alms. We were living on relief. My husband was a labourer while I worked at home,’’ she said. ‘‘Even my husband didn’t have enough work to do as labourer. I will have to go out to work in any case. Now I know I will be paid for at least three months.’’

In fact, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad launched the scheme on a happy note. Today, the J-K Government concluded relief operations and announced the beginning of reconstruction with winter almost over in quake-hit Karnah region. ‘‘I am happy to tell you that we are ready to begin the reconstruction programme,’’ Azad told a gathering of quake victims at Teetwal and Tangdhar. ‘‘The relief operation was primarily aimed at helping you to provide you a place to spend winter after your homes were destroyed. Now we will start reconstructing your homes.’’

Azad, however, emphasised that the villagers need to strictly take the advice of engineers and disaster management experts who will be deputed by the government. ‘‘We don’t want any similar tragedy to destroy us again,’’ he said.

Then Azad explained to the villagers about NREG Scheme. ‘‘Unemployment is a major problem and this scheme will guarantee 100 days of work for each of you every year. If we are not able to provide you with work, we will have to pay you for 100 days anyway,’’ he said. Azad handed over the job cards, specially prepared in Urdu for Kupwara in the valley, a district among the 200 chosen by the Centre for NREG scheme across the country.

The J-K Government has planned to shift 600 families living in seven villages after Geology and Mining department declared the areas unsafe. In fact, the government had to rescue 12 families from Tangdhar Nar after landslides.