SVDSCB observes ‘black day’, demands reservation in employment

Jammu, Aug 30 (PTI) Shri Vaishno Devi Sewa CommitteeBaridaran (SVDSCB) today observed a "black day" on 30 years ofconstitution of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, allegingthat the Board has "deprived" them from serving the shrine anddemanded reservation in employment in the board. Over thousand members of Baridaran assembled at Katramain chowk, the base camp of cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Deviin the Reasi district, and staged a massive protest againstthe state government and Shrine Board. Addressing the protesters, SVDSCB President Sher Singh,alleged that from the last 30 years government and shrineboard are befooling the people, who are sewadars of MataVaishno Devi. He said that over 30,000 souls of Baridars totallydepended upon the offerings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to meettheir day to day needs but since the constitution of board allthese people are now finding it difficult to meet their bothends. He said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board took over theshrine without "compensating" the genuine sewadars. "The members of the board have been treated as VIP atBhawan while the members of Baridaran not allowed to performdarshan of deity," he alleged. He demanded that the board should include at least twomembers from Baridaran community. He said from last 30 years we demanded 40 per centreservation in employments in the Shrine Board as perqualification, scholarships to children of Baridars accruingeducations, 10 per cent seats for wards of Baridars in ShriMata Vaishno Devi University and other educational institutesrun by the Shrine Board like Shrine Boards of other HinduShrines, new school for children of Baridars at par withcentral schools. Recalling the Prime Minister’s assurance to address thegrievances of the erstwhile Baridars, Singh said that despiteBJP-PDP forming Government in the state the Prime Minister"did not fulfill" the promise he had made with the erstwhileBaridars of Mata Vaishno Devi. "We would also like to remind the Prime Minister tofulfill his election promise and solve the genuine issue ofBaridars," he added. PTI AB DK IKA RGIKA