DSS URGES JAMMU LEADERS TO COME ON ONE PLATFORM TO SAVE DOGRACULTURE AND IDENTITY

Jammu. May 13: Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, former minister and president Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), J&K, Jammu chaired an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the Sabha here today in which all participating members and other prominent citizens appealed to the leadership of all hues and groups of Jammu region, irrespective of political affiliations, to shun their petty differences and come together on a single common platform to work dedicatedly for preservation of the rich Dogra culture, traditions, resources, heritage and strengthen national unity. The participants were unanimous in their view that these were the Dogras led by the valiant Dogra rulers who defined the boundaries of the vast Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh state in the middle of nineteenth century, promoted social justice, education, gender equality, service to all irrespective of caste, creed and religion, and then
acceded whole of the state to the rest of India in 1947. The participants lamented that it was unfortunate that the saner voice of humanity, brotherhood and equal rights espoused by the Dogras has remained generally neglected and unheard by the powers that be, ever since.
In the emergency meeting of the Executive Committee, speakers one after the other observed that after 5 August, 2019, people of Jammu had expected that the government would look into their day to day needs and other important issues close to their heart, with compassion and due priority, but unfortunately, the government machinery appeared working in isolation that was not consistent with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mantra of SABKA SAATH, SABKA VIKAS, SABKA VISHWAS. Drawing the attention of Hon’ble Lt. Governor and other concerned authorities towards heavy losses to rabi season crops, particularly the wheat, due to unprecedented dry spell and high temperature from January to March followed by undesired rains and cool weather in April-early May 2023, the DSS appealed to the government to expeditiously
complete a detailed survey of crops in affected districts and take immediate steps to provide adequate relief (compensation) to the farmers in distress.
Speakers maintained that already lakhs of farmers were suffering in R. S. Pura – Samba belt because irrigation water was not reaching the fields due to inadequate and improper desilting and repair/ restoration works at Canal Tail ends and distributaries. The Participants referred to the repeatedly reiterated demand of the DSS to declare theb 118 years old Ranbir Canal, the lifeline of Jammu, as a State Heritage in view of its historical contribution to electricity generation, besides bringing scenic beauty, high irrigation potential, nutrients from the hills and characteristic aroma to world famous Basmati Rice of Jammu through the glacial waters of the Himalayas. Speakers emphasized upon the Government to favourably consider and implement the long standing demand of DSS to lay solar panels over the Canal as done over the Sabarmati River Front in Gujarat, for generating solar power.
The DSS expressed dissatisfaction over unprofessional and unethical approach
adopted in conservation and restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and observed that the manner in which the work was going on at the site could be classified under any category, but not under the category of conservation and restoration of Dogra Heritage. The ongoing slow pace of restoration and conservation work on this historical structure of immense heritage and archival value, is bound to get further damaged during ensuing monsoon rains, because all its roofs have been removed and the foundations on River Tawi side haven’t been strengthened, DSS has warned.
The DSS made a strong plea for launch of a full fledged Duggar Channel to provide an effective platform for Dogra artists. In this connection, the participants thanked the Government of India for declaring Dogri as an official language in the UT of J&K and said that the language is widely spoken and understood not only in the Jammu region, but also in the neighbouring Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, many other parts of the country and even the world. It is understood in Pakistan and PoJK also. Duggar Channel, when established in Jammu, will be able to reach out to most of the people in the remote and
hilly areas of this state and also have capability to counter the Pakistani propaganda from across the borders, the DSS stressed.
The DSS also expressed support to the demand of Dogra Artists who have been demanding immediate revival and upgradation of AIR Jammu and Akashwani Jammu since long. 
The DSS expressed its strong disagreement with the recent statements of some people regarding the end to the custom of Darbar Move saying that the DSS was of the firm opinion that the extravagant ritual of Durbar Move was abandoned by the government after repeated demands by the DSS and other like-minded people and organisations on this issue, as it disturbed the families of move employees, caused disruption in the office works for about one month before and after the move, involved loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to state exchequer and didn’t bring any income to the shopkeepers, businessmen and traders of Jammu and Srinagar from the employees and their families
who had moved to the other capital city because of the move. The talk of reviving the Durbar Move was illogical and meritless, the participants observed.
Prominent among those who participated in the meeting were Col Karan Singh (Retd) Prem Sagar Gupta, Maj Gen Sunita Kapoor BSM, Abdul Majid, President Muslim federation, H.A Siddiqui, former Add. Adv. General, Ghambhir Dev Singh Charak, Syed Amanat Ali Shah, Mohd. Shabir (Retd SSP), Rashid Ahmed Fani, Retd. SE, Sayed Jalil Ahmed Shah, Chander Mohan Sharma, Madan Rangila, Chhankar Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Ravi Singh Salathia, Naresh Singh, Pawan Sharma, Saleem Khan and others.