Srinagar 24 Apr: National Conference (NC) Senior Leader and former member of legislative assembly from Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar on Friday urged the Governor’s administration to make all adequate arrangements including uninterrupted power and water supplies for ensuing holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement issued to press from here Jabbar while congratulating the muslim ummah said that on the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan is time to remember the poor and the needy and to share responsibilities.
The pandemic has forced many governments to order restrictions on travel, gathering and collective prayers the likes of which the world has not seen before.
“Scholars of Islam throughout the world are unanimous that the Prophet of Islam warned against the spread of contagious diseases and urged Muslims to prevent the spread,” Jabbar said.
“The early morning meals (sahur) and the breaking of fast (iftar) are to be done individually or with core family members only,”. The same rules applied to offering prayers or reciting the Quran, Jabbar appealed.
He said that amid prevailing lockdown due to Cornavirus pandemic, the authorities must ensure availability of essential commodities in the market and underlined the need for the constitution of special market checking squads to keep the check on profiteering, hoarding and black-marketing and also asked the government to ensure strict implementation of government approved rate list besides the hassle-free home delivery of gas supply to the consumers.
“The government should also provide free LPG, ration including rice, wheat and sugar to BPL and low income groups in Ramadhan in view of the lockdown.
It would be better if the government and the district administration Ganderbal will give some relaxation or issue a time to provision stores, vegetable and fruit vendors and milk sellers to operate while ensuring social distancing and other protocols to prevent spread of COVID-19,” and come with specific Ramadan bazaars in some areas with the due standard operating procedure in place. At other places, rapid action teams must deliver essentials at the doors steps of people NC district President said.
He said that closure of all the business establishments and restricting people and vehicular movement in the Red Zones by the authorities is a welcome step to combat coronavirus but it is duty of the government to ensure hassle free delivery of essential commodities in these Red Zone areas,” he said.
He further said that people associated with transport , labours, etc be given financial assistance whose livelihood is affected by this pandemic.
Jabbar said that the government must clear the wages and salaries of economically weaker section of employees especially daily wagers , contingent paid employees, causal labours, seasonal labours, HDF employees to save their families from starvation at this difficult time.
He has urged District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Ganderbal to arrange free ambulances, medicine etc in every block of Ganderbal for Cancer patients, patients with kidney ailments and requiring dialysis support and diabetics.