Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Cabinet on Monday approved a long-awaited policy for allotment of five marlas of land to families whose houses were damaged in floods and cloudburst-triggered disasters during the recent monsoon, while also clearing an enhancement in the salary structure of Village Level Workers (VLWs).
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by all ministers, cleared several proposals placed by different departments, marking an important policy push in the areas of disaster relief and rural administration, sources said.
According to officials familiar with the deliberations, the Cabinet gave its formal nod to the policy providing five-marla residential plots to people affected by flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts earlier this year. The move follows widespread damage caused by intense monsoon rainfall in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during mid and late August, when civilian houses, agricultural land and public infrastructure suffered extensive losses.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier announced government support in the form of land allotment to families whose homes were rendered uninhabitable by the disasters. The policy, finalised after detailed inter-departmental consultations, is aimed at providing permanent rehabilitation to the worst-affected households.
The Cabinet decision will now be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for approval, as UT Cabinet resolutions require the LG’s consent.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved the enhancement of salary levels for Village Level Workers, also known as Multipurpose Workers, who form the backbone of grassroots administration in the Rural Development Department.
As per sources, the salary structure of VLWs has been upgraded from Level-2 to Level-4, addressing a long-pending demand of the cadre.
The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to redesignate District Panchayat Officers posted in the offices of Assistant Commissioner Panchayat as Block Development Officers.
Officials said around 20 such posts are expected to be re-designated, a move aimed at streamlining administrative functioning and strengthening block-level governance.
These decisions come a day after the Cabinet had convened with a packed agenda that included rural development reforms and relief measures for disaster-affected families.
