Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 19: The State Government will make a further revision of Rs 5000 crore revised package for rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants back in Valley under which it was proposed to pay Rs 20 lakh for settlement of each family in Kashmir Valley on its return.
This information was given by the State Government representative in the high level meeting constituted by Union Home Ministry on Action Taken Report (ATR) of 173 Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs held in Union Capital today.
The meeting was chaired by Union Home Secretary, Anil Goswami. He was assisted by other officials of the Home Ministry including R K Srivastava, Joint Secretary Home and P P Singh Consultant K III. The J&K Government was represented by Revenue Secretary, Vinod Kaul, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, R K Pandita.
Sources said the State Government representatives, while seeking time for the implementation of rehabilitation package informed the meeting that during the recent Apex Committee meeting held at Srinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah it was decided to identify land at district headquarters for construction of clusters for the settlement of 300 to 400 migrant families.
Since there was no provision for acquisition of land in the package and majority of migrants have no land for construction of houses in Valley, the State Government will further revise the package.
The meeting was also informed that the State Government will approach the Union Government after revising the package with Cabinet approval for funds, sources added.
Sources said the further action on today’s meeting will be taken in the next meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee to be held in Union Capital under the chairmanship of its chairman Vankiah Naidu on September 30.
The State Government representatives also informed the meeting that the migrant students who have qualified their 10 +2 examination in Delhi Board or outside State and who are not putting up at Jammu and undergoing training in professional colleges outside the State are also entitled to the HRD Ministry’s scholarships, sources said, adding a decision to this affect was taken recently by the Government.
The meeting was attended by representatives of PoK refugees, West Pak refugees, Kashmiri migrants and minority Sikhs from the Valley also.
Sources said while West Pakistan refugees leader Laba Ram Gandhi stressed on grant of permanent citizenship rights to these hapless refuges residing in Jammu since partition, PoK Refugees Sangarsh Morcha, convener, Dr Narinder Singh demanded representation to PoK refugees on eight seats reserved for PoK in State Assembly as one third of population from PoK has migrated to Jammu in 1947 and subsequent wars.
He alleged that these refugees have till date not been given any compensation and demanded that over two lakh refugees of PoK who are settled outside J&K be given PRCs and settled in Jammu.
He demanded fresh registration of PoK refugees to ascertain their total number and grant of compensation to them on the basis of that for their left over properties and losses suffered by them.
The other leaders from PoK refugees who were present in the meeting included Rashpal Singh Chib of Displaced Persons Front and former Minister, Manjit Singh.
The representatives of Joint Forum of KP organizations including H L Chatta, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, H N Jatu, Virender Raina, Rakesh Kaul of Delhi Samiti, Vijay Raina and Prem Singh a Sikh representative while highlighting the problems of Kashmiri migrants demanded implementation of PM’s employment package by announcing the remaining jobs, transfer of female teachers from Kashmir to other places, soft loans for the displaced overaged youth, redressal of problems of Jagti inmates, PRCs to migrants be issued at Delhi who are putting up in Union Capital and redressal of problems of INA traders and Delhi HAAT traders be given shops while Prem Singh demanded minority status for minorities in J&K.
However this group opposed the return package and made it clear that return and employment may not be linked together.
The another migrant group led by JKVM leaders T N Razdhan and Ajay Bharti also highlighted the problems of displaced Pandits and accused the Government for the apathy of the people.
KP Sabha chief, K K Khosa stressed on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), involvement of community into political process actively, removal of encroachments from migrants property, age relaxation to over aged youth, implementation of PM’s package and passage of shrines and Temples Bill.
Ramesh Raina, general secretary, AIKS expressed concern over delay in implementation of PM’s package, turned attention to AIKS document on rehabilitation and expressed concern over delay in passage of Shrines and Temples Bill. M. K. Kaw made a forceful presentation and his focus was on constitution of a Commission of inquiry, declaration of exodus as a genocide, change of migrants status as refugees, declaration of KPs as a minority within the State, investigation of KPs’ killings during turmoil through CBI and Passage of Temples and Shrines Bill.
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