Karra flags statehood delay, ‘Chanda Chori’, youth distress and public-sector gaps

18/09/2026

JAMMU, Sep 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) on Thursday held a 'Chopal Pe Charcha' at Digiana Rani Talab, highlighting issues including restoration of statehood, unemployment, recruitment concerns, healthcare and education vacancies, problems of daily wagers and NHM employees, farmers' concerns, infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
The programme was organised by the District Jammu Congress Committee under the presidentship of Yogesh Sawhney and hosted by former Corporator and Bishnah Constituency in-charge Dwarka Chowdhary.
Former MP Choudhary Lal Singh, S T S Tony, Rajneesh Sharma, Th Manmohan Singh, Satish Sharma and Dwarka Chowdhary also addressed the gathering.
JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra said the Congress was using the 'Chopal Pe Charcha' platform to take public concerns directly to the people. He raised the issue referred to by the Congress as 'Chanda Chori' and reiterated the party's demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra said the Congress had been raising concerns regarding the present administrative structure and the commitments made on restoration of statehood.
He also highlighted employment and livelihood issues affecting the youth, including unemployment, recruitment-related grievances and examination controversies. He said the concerns of young people required concrete measures in employment, education and entrepreneurship.
Karra also referred to the pending demands of daily wagers and temporary employees, stipend-related issues of medical interns and the demands of NHM employees concerning job security and service conditions.
He drew attention to staff shortages in hospitals, schools and colleges, inadequate infrastructure, poor roads, farmers' difficulties and inflation. He also raised concerns regarding charges on specified UPI merchant transactions and said economic policies should take into account their impact on ordinary people and small businesses.
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla said people across Jammu and Kashmir were seeking tangible improvements in employment, public services, infrastructure and economic conditions.
He highlighted unemployment and recruitment delays, shortages of doctors and other healthcare staff, poor roads and civic infrastructure, regularisation of daily wagers, farmers' concerns and challenges faced by traders.
Bhalla called for transparent recruitment, creation of employment opportunities, strengthening of hospitals and educational institutions, improvement of roads and civic amenities and a time-bound approach to unresolved employee and daily-wager issues.
He also reiterated the Congress position on restoration of full statehood, saying the issue remained central to the party's engagement with people across Jammu and Kashmir.
Former MP Choudhary Lal Singh said the programme provided an opportunity to understand grassroots concerns and bring them into wider public discussion.
He highlighted unemployment, healthcare, infrastructure, farmers' issues and the rising cost of living and called for sustained attention to such concerns.
He also stressed the need to strengthen public institutions, create employment opportunities for youth and ensure development reaches both rural and urban areas.
The programme formed part of the Congress's continuing 'Chopal Pe Charcha' campaign aimed at direct interaction with residents and highlighting grassroots issues.

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