The decision by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, following approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, to extend two major financial assistance schemes for displaced communities in the region until March 31, 2026, is a welcome and necessary move. It reaffirms the Government’s recognition of historical injustices faced by West Pakistani refugees and displaced families from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb. However, while the extension of these schemes offers continued relief, significant concerns must be addressed if the Government truly seeks equitable rehabilitation.
The two schemes in question-the financial assistance scheme for 5,764 WPR families and the one-time settlement package for PoJK and Chhamb displaced families-were launched to provide long-overdue support to communities displaced by the tumultuous events of partition and the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. The former, introduced in 2018, has an approved outlay of Rs 317.02 crore for the upcoming year. The latter, under the Prime Minister’s Development Package 2015, operated with a sanctioned amount of Rs 2,000 crore. Despite the reassuring figures and continued Governmental backing, the most pressing issue remains the uneven application of relief, especially to PoJK displaced families from 1947. Approximately 4,000 such families were excluded from the original assistance programme due to the inability to furnish the required documentation. This error is not just an administrative hiccup-it reflects a systemic oversight that has denied aid to a highly vulnerable section of our citizenry.
Rigid and often impractical documentation requirements are the core of the problem. While families displaced during the 1965 and 1971 conflicts have been granted certain documentation relaxations, the same concessions have not been extended to the 1947 PoJK refugees. This disparity is paradoxical and discriminatory. It must be remembered that those displaced in 1947 have endured the longest period of hardship, often without any formal recognition or rehabilitation support until recently. Expecting them, after over seven decades, to produce documents from a time of mass violence and upheaval borders on the absurd. The Government’s insistence that the schemes will not be extended beyond March 31, 2026, adds further urgency to the situation. If the sunset date remains fixed, then the window to provide equitable and inclusive aid is rapidly narrowing. A firm deadline without a flexible, inclusive approach could result in another generation being left behind, merely due to bureaucratic inertia.
There is also the question of outreach and awareness. Many families have remained unaware of these schemes or have found themselves unable to navigate the complex application processes. The J&K Administration must undertake a proactive role in identifying and facilitating support for eligible families. Local authorities and elected representatives should be mobilised to reach remote and under-represented areas. Simplifying documentation processes, perhaps by allowing alternative proofs or community testimonies, can significantly widen the net of beneficiaries. Furthermore, these assistance packages must not be treated as mere financial handouts. They must be integrated into a broader strategy for sustainable rehabilitation-one that includes education, employment opportunities, land rights, and housing. The trauma of displacement is generational and psychological; it cannot be healed solely by a cheque.
Another vital aspect is transparency and accountability in the implementation of these funds. With Rs 2,317 crore earmarked between the two schemes for the 2025-26 period, rigorous oversight mechanisms must be in place to ensure that funds are disbursed efficiently and reach the rightful beneficiaries. Misuse or misallocation would derail the schemes’ objectives and erode public trust in the institutions meant to protect and uplift vulnerable communities.
Practically, while the extension of financial aid schemes until 2026 is undoubtedly a positive step, it is insufficient in isolation. The Government must move beyond deadlines and embrace a more empathetic, inclusive, and pragmatic approach. Equal treatment for all displaced families, especially those from PoJK who have faced historical neglect, must be prioritised. Justice, after all, delayed for over seven decades, must not be denied now over red tape.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
