Mehbooba seeks lifting of ban on shahtoos

Srinagar, Oct 17: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today urged the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government to lift the ban on manufacture and sale of shahtoos.

Addressing a party convention here, she underlined the need for lifting the ban imposed on Shahtoos, saying it had harshly axed on the income generation of Kashmiri women who have no other means to supplement their livelihood.

Ms Mufti also sought effective measures to gear up agencies connected with urban employment generation programmes in Srinagar and Jammu cities besides townships of the state as the inhabitants were facing hardship due to lack of employment avenues.

Making special reference for the creation of Urban Development Agencies at Srinagar and Jammu besides in all the 12 districts of the state, she said their effective performance and monitoring aimed at generating employment avenues would go a long way in providing succor to the unemployed people of urban areas.

The PDP president also called for initiating steps for permanent rehabilitation of Dal dwellers living in inhuman conditions as the basic facilities at their present location cannot be improved in view of the court directions.

Secondly, the delay in their rehabilitation has made life more miserable for them, she added.

Ms Mufti also explained the broad contours of the PDP's self-rule formula and sought massive cooperation for transforming the proposal into a reality.

UNI