Centre to ensure all possible help to flood-hit Jammu Kashmir: Jitendra Singh

Srinagar, Oct 14: The Centre on Tuesday, assured all possible help to Jammu and Kashmir while suggesting strategies to the state government to address the problems of relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that there will be no shortcoming by the Centre in providing all possible help to the people affected by the floods. We will do whatever is needed to help the people of the state," Union Minister of State for PMO, Jitendra Singh said here.

Addressing the launch function of special credit-cum-relief camps set up by various banks for the flood affected people, Singh said the Centre would go beyond what was needed to provide succour to the people of the state.

The minister suggested the state government to have a session with the people to listen to and address their grievances and involve representatives of civil society in distribution of relief.

"I have two suggestions for the state government. First, they should have an open session where the affected people can highlight their grievances and the government addresses them on spot, " he said, "The government should involve the representatives of civil society in the distribution of the relief. The representatives can be of any party, who stand above any political considerations. This way representatives would identify the affected people and there would be no allegations of nepotism against you (the government)."

The Union minister said although the Centre is doing everything it could to help the people of the state but there was still criticism by the "habitual critics".

PTI