Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Jammu and Kashmir Government has proposed community type bunkers in 448 border villages in five districts of Jammu covering a population of over 4 lakh.
A total of 457 villages covering a population of 4,51,856 are located at International Border or Line of Control in border districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed informed the Legislative Assembly in response to the question of National Conference MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
He said that with a view to provide security to the border population at the time of firing from across the border, a comprehensive proposal for construction of bunkers in the identified border villages was submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs vide Home Department communication No.Home/57/ Accts/2013/861 dated February 23, 2015 for approval.
In the proposal, construction of community type bunkers has been proposed in 448 villages covering a population of 4,02,455 in the border districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri at an estimated cost of Rs 1006.25 crore, Chief Minister said.
He said that 41625 families in Jammu, 5143 in Samba and 1775 in Kathua district affected due to border shelling and firing were provided shelter during the period from October 2014 to January 2015.
In response to a question, he said that proposal is being pursued with the Union Government.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that a number of measures have been taken for the sustenance of West Pakistani refugees.
These families were allowed to occupy around 46,466 kanals of land at the scale of 4 acres irrigated or 6 acres of un-irrigated, Mufti Sayeed said, adding these families are entitled to benefits under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes like MGNREGA.
“In order to facilitate the recruitment of the wards of these refugees settled in J&K in Central Armed Forces, the Union Home Ministry has allowed the recruitment of West Pakistan refugees without the condition of having a domicile certificate”, he further said, adding “a copy of electoral roll is being accepted as proof of residence so that they are entitled for employment in the Central Government departments”.
He further said that Home Ministry has issued directions to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, J&K to accommodate the children of West Pakistani refugees on priority basis.
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