Manjit demands release of pending package for DPs

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMGARH, Nov 15: Apni Party provincial president for Jammu and former Minister, Manjit Singh has demanded release of the pending economic package for the Displaced Persons that was sanctioned by the previous Govt of India.
“The DPs have suffered for decades after their displacement from different places of Jammu region following hostility between two countries in 1947, 1965 and 1971. These unexpected situations forced them out of their homes and fertile agricultural fields,” Manjit Singh said while addressing worker’s meeting in Ramgarh.
Singh said the DPs who were displaced from their own lands were settled in the border belt of Jammu in different locations in hostile conditions. However, these DPs managed to survive for all these tough years with no reservation in education, jobs and other sectors.
“These people lived a life under poverty while agriculture and labour work was their main source of earning. It was due to the years of suffering that the then Govt of India sanctioned Rs 25 lakhs in favour of each DP family in J&K. But this amount was not released completely,” he reminded.
He said that around Rs 5.5 lakhs was released and many DP families complained that the Revenue Department and other related departments were asking them for formalities that were not possible for them to fulfil.
In the backdrop of the development and pending package, he said that it becomes imperative for the Govt of India to release the pending amount of economic package in favour of the DPs in Jammu and Kashmir so that it could help them for their upliftment.
He demanded reservation in jobs, professional education and educational institutes. He also demanded that the Govt should hold on spot recruitment drives for the unemployed youth of DPs in defence, paramilitary and J&K Police.
Singh said DPs of 1965 and 1971 should be provided proprietary rights on the land they were given by the Govt and accordingly, the land deficiency should be fulfilled as per the promises made by the Govt in the past.