Victims’ kin protest against govt’s ‘failure’ to give jobs

Two months have passed but neither the Punjab government nor the MC has given the promised jobs. If government thinks ₹5 lakh is enough for our expenses, I am ready to pay them ₹10 lakh.

SWARAN KAUR, mother of one of the victims

AMRITSAR: Around two months after government jobs were announced for the next of kin of those killed in Amritsar train tragedy, their family members along with locals staged a protest at Jaura Phatak here on Sunday against the state government.

Raising slogans, protesters alleged that the state government had failed to fulfil their promise of providing jobs to those eligible and also threatened to intensify the protest if their demands were not met at the earliest.

“Authorities told us that they will provide jobs till December but nothing has been done about it. They even promised us dietary allowance, but we haven’t received anything,” said Navjeet Singh. Singh’s son Sachin Singh (16) was one among the 61 people killed when a speeding train on its way from Pathankot to Amritsar smashed into a crowd on the railway tracks watching a burning Ravana effigy during Dussehra fireworks at Dobhi Ghat near Jaura Phatak on October 19 this year.

Swaran Kaur, mother of Dilbir Singh who was killed while saving others, said, “Dilbir had an eight-month old daughter and was the only earning hand in our family. Two months later, neither the government nor MC has given promised jobs. If government thinks ₹5 lakh is enough for our expenses, I am ready to pay them ₹10 lakh”.

“If the government is not ready to help us, it should at least take action against those behind the mishap. Even the central government has befooled us by not giving ₹2 lakh as promised financial aid. Every minister is making fun of us,” said another protester Sandeep Kaur.

On October 26, minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had announced jobs to the eligible family members of those killed in the tragedy.

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu had also promised job in the corporation to one dependent family member of the deceased.