SVDSCB observes 'black day', demands reservation in employment

Shri Vaishno Devi Sewa Committee Baridaran (SVDSCB) today observed a "black day" on 30 years of constitution of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, alleging that the Board has "deprived" them from serving the shrine and demanded reservation in employment in the board.
Over thousand members of Baridaran assembled at Katra main chowk, the base camp of cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Reasi district, and staged a massive protest against the state government and Shrine Board.
Addressing the protesters, SVDSCB President Sher Singh, alleged that from the last 30 years government and shrine board are befooling the people, who are sewadars of Mata Vaishno Devi.

He said that over 30,000 souls of Baridars totally depended upon the offerings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to meet their day to day needs but since the constitution of board all these people are now finding it difficult to meet their both ends.
He said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board took over the shrine without "compensating" the genuine sewadars.
"The members of the board have been treated as VIP at Bhawan while the members ofBaridaran not allowed to perform darshan of deity," he alleged.

He demanded that the board should include at least two members from Baridaran community.

He said from last 30 years we demanded 40 per cent reservation in employments in the Shrine Board as per qualification, scholarships to children of Baridars accruing educations, 10 per cent seats for wards of Baridars in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and other educational institutes run by the Shrine Board like Shrine Boards of other Hindu Shrines, new school for children of Baridars at par with central schools.
Recalling the Prime Minister's assurance to address the grievances of the erstwhile Baridars, Singh said that despite BJP-PDP forming Government in the state the Prime Minister "did not fulfill" the promise he had made with the erstwhile Baridars of Mata Vaishno Devi.

"We would also like to remind the Prime Minister to fulfill his election promise and solve the genuine issue of Baridars," he added.