Thanks to the army, we can now say azaan so that people can come for prayers.
When Maulvi Sajjad Ahmad leads the prayers at Jama Masjid Gali-Maidan; he never forgets to remember the local army troopers in his prayers.
For this 30-year-old Imam, the army has proved to be the biggest facilitator of prayers by providing best of facilities to the mosque.
From furnishings to loud-speakers to generator sets to illuminating devices, the army has reinforced the facilities at the mosque, much to chagrin of those who whip-up passions against the troopers playing communal card.
“Thanks to the army, we can now say azaan so that people can come for prayers. The people in this area are very poor who lead a hand to mouth existence and can’t afford other things. It is the army which never hesitates in coming to our rescue when we are in crisis”, says Sajjad.
Unlike the separatists who have been preaching against taking help for mosques from the army, the villagers here feel pride in going to the army and seeking their support for everything they need.
Take Jama Masjid Saujiyan, the biggest mosque where 600 people can offer prayers, it is the army which has come to its rescue. This mosque was lacking all basic facilities and the people were not in a position to support it. Enter the army; now, the people are at least in a position to offer prayers.
“We could not do ablutions in the mosque because we were facing water problems. When we brought it to the notice of the army, they immediately gave us a water storage tank. Plus, they also gave us furnishings for the mosque. The army is also providing us batteries for inverters”, says Hafiz Mohammad Iqbal, Imam of Jama Masjid Saujiyan.
With a population of 3000 people, this village is located on the foothills of the LoC at an altitude of 6400 feet. Most of the people are dependent on the agriculture with maize being the only crop being grown in this remote area.
Living in the harshest conditions, the villagers are fully dependent on the army for facilities. From being the biggest employment generator to helping in women’s empowerment to building infrastructure, the army has been on the forefront in helping the people live a dignified life.
“We are starting a recruitment drive from next month in Rajouri and there are many people who want to join as soldiers. Now we have started counseling them to help them pass the tests. Plus, our endeavor is to help the people in whatever way we can”, said Major Ajay Pathania, second-in-command, 40 Rashtriya Riffles who is entrusted with the job of guarding the LoC and the anti-insurgency grid.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}