People tell Omar about financial mess due to hartal

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Chief minister Omar Abdullah was swamped with pleas seeking financial assistance or waiver of loans at his "Open House" on Wednesday reflecting the harsh impact of the frequent strikes and unrest on the common man during the past one decade in Jammu and Kashmir.

A young man from downtown Srinagar said the interest burden on his loan was mounting at such a pace that he was unable to make payments in time.

"If only the interest is waived and the situation does not turn ugly again, I may be able to start afresh," the youth, who did not want to be named, told reporters.

Omar has been patiently listening to the woes of people which mainly revolve around growing financial crises despite J&K having the lowest below the poverty line population in the country.

The strike culture has taken its toll on the livelihood of the people, especially those directly or indirectly connected with tourism, says Omar.

"The shikarawallahs, the hoteliers and those working in the hotels, taxi operators, tour operators and handicraft dealers were badly affected as they lost peak season of their work to strikes," he said.

The chief minister said the fall out of the turmoil of mainly of last three years was now coming to the fore as his office was getting lot of applications for financial assistance.

The pinch caused by the unrest over the past three years on the financial condition of Kashmiris is being felt by many families, especially from Srinagar, as they are not able to cope up with the rising cost of living.

Abdul Hamid, from Zainakadal area of Srinagar, is oneof the hundreds of people who have assembled outside chief minister Omar Abdullah’s private office in the hope of getting their problems redressed at his weekly "Awami Mulakat" (Open House).

Hamid is suffering from several ailments and is unable to afford500 he needs every week for buying medicines. "I was working in a private company but they closed down their operations following turmoil in Kashmir over the past three years.

"Now, I do odd jobs to support my family but earnings are not enough," says Hamid during his meeting with the chief minister, who was quick to give an assurance of providing some assistance.

An elderly man from Pulwama district in south Kashmir, who did not wish to be named, is suffering from heart ailment and needs a pacemaker. He does not have money to pay for it.

"I have two young unmarried daughters. Unless there is help coming from the chief minister, I will have to choose between living and getting my daughters married as my savings can only sustain one of the two," he said.

Many people have turned to Omar for jobs but he suggested they get in touch with autonomous state institutions which make recruitments in a ransparent and fair manner.