Govt assures return of assets to Kashmiri migrants

NEW DELHI, Apr 6:

The Modi Government is capable and making efforts to restore assets to Kashmiri migrants and so far properties of 610 applicants have been returned, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha today.
Responding to queries during the Question Hour in the Upper House, the Minister said the District Magistrate has been designated as the custodian of the migrants’ properties. The State Government has also started a portal to resolve the complaints of migrants.
“The Modi Government and Home Minister is capable of returning the assets to migrant Kashmiris. Constant efforts are being made,” he said.
If the complaint of migrants is genuine and correct, their assets will be returned. So far, the assets of 610 applicants have been returned, he added.
Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is on a development track, the Minister while responding to a supplementary query said that the UT has received an investment proposal of Rs 51,000 crore for industrial development which will help create employment opportunities for 4.50 lakh people.
The construction of about 13 roads has provided better reach in J&K, Prior to 2019, the speed of construction was at 6.54 km per day, which has increased to 20,68 km per day now.
A village housing over 1,000 people is connected with roads. By 2023, a hamlet with 500 people will also get the road connection, he added.
The Minister further said that there is a 24 hours electricity supply due to excess power production. Even IIT and IIM have been set up.
Responding to another supplementary on growing unemployment, the Minister said the employment and confidence in people has increased in J&K.
About 26,303 posts have been identified in the state from 2019 and till date. The process of hiring is underway, he said, and an employment portal has been set up, counselling sections and career centres have been put in place in the UT.
On jobs promised for Kashmiri migrants, the Minister said the J&K Government has given jobs to 841 in 2020-21 and 1,264 in 2021-22.
The Government is ready to give jobs to migrant Kashmiris who wish to settle back in Valley, he added.
On the status of a development package announced in 2015 for the J&K, the Minister said Rs 58,466 crore was approved as part of the package.
“The projects are being implemented in a speedy manner. Many projects have been implemented. The ones which are completed are inspected and gaps, if any, are addressed,” he said and added, “soon all projects will be implemented.”
Meanwhile, four Kashmiri Pandits among 14 Hindus were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, Rai said.
Rai also said that 34 people belonging to minority communities were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the last five years, including 11 in 2021.
Replying to questions in the Upper House, the Minister said that after the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, 2105 migrants have returned to Kashmir valley for taking up jobs provided under the Prime Minister’s Development Package.
Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019 and the erstwhile State was bifurcated into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Minister said the Government has taken several measures to ensure the safety of minorities in the Valley. These include robust security and intelligence grid, group security in the form of static guards and day and night area domination.
There is also round-the-clock checking at Nakas and patrolling in the areas where the minorities reside besides proactive operations against terrorists.
Replying to another question, he said as many as 502 infiltrations have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir since 2017.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 2015, the Minister said under the scheme, 3,000 jobs for Kashmiri migrants have been created by J&K Government.
The selection process for the appointment of 2,828 migrants has been completed, out of which 1,913 migrants have been appointed and the verification of documents of the remaining 915 migrants has been taken up.
Rai said the construction of transit accommodations under the PMRP–2008 has been done, while work on accommodations approved under PMDP-2015 is being completed.
“Construction of 1025 units has been completed or substantially completed, 1488 units are at different stages of completion and work on remaining units has been taken up,” he said.
The Minister said the Central Government reimburses monthly cash relief to the Kashmiri migrants, which was last enhanced in June 2018 from Rs 10,000 to Rs 13,000 per family.
The enhancement of cash relief to Kashmiri migrants is considered from time to time on the recommendation of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the inflation trend, he said. (PTI)