Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 3: The Government will take decision on the settlement of PoK refugees after it receives the report of Cabinet Sub Committee which is examining the Wadhwa Committee recommendations constituted in this regard.
This information was given in a written reply by Minister Incharge Revenue to the question of JSM MLA , Ashwani Sharma in State Assembly today.
The Minister said the recommendations made by the Wadhwa Committee regarding the settlement of PoK refugees have been referred to Cabinet Sub Committee headed by Finance Minister for examination and after the receipt of CSC report the Government will take the future course of action in this regard and the matter will be placed before the House.
However the Minister categorically said that the facilities extended to PoK refuges could not be extended to West Pak refugees as they are not the permanent residents of the State.
The Minister informed the House that the refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) who had migrated in 1947 have been provided various facilities, including agriculture land to those in rural areas and plots and quarters to those settled in urban areas.
The Minister said so far as PoK refugees of 1947 are concerned they have already been provided various facilities by the Government.
The Minister said the displaced persons and refugees have raised various issues such as one time settlement, employment package, reservation in professional colleges and the matter is under the consideration of the Government.
In a written reply to a question of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, the Minister said 31,619 families of DPs of 1947 are registered with the Government and out of them 26,319 families are settled in J&K while 5300 families are settled outside the State. Besides, 5,764 families of West Pak refugees are settled in different districts of Jammu region including Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua, he added.
He said 8,150 families of Chhamb DPs of 1965 and 1971 are settled in camps. There are total 1965 Chhamb DPs of Non Camp registered with Government, he added.
The Minister said a comprehensive proposal for one time settlement of pending issues of all categories of refugees is under consideration of the Government.
Regarding resettlement of Jammu migrants and Muslim families of Kashmir, the Minister said with the improvement in security situation, the State Government will offer them the financial package on the pattern of the package offered to Kashmiri migrants for their return and rehabilitation to Kashmir Valley during 2008.
He said it was with this objective in mind that a proposal regarding sanction of financial package involving an amount of Rs 91.56 crore has been forwarded with prior approval of State Cabinet to Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for conveying necessary approval to the package and release of funds under security related expenditure.
The Minister said that the main components of the package are repairs and reconstruction of the houses, re-cultivation of agriculture lands, employment of 300 youth, financial assistance for 300 income generating units and continuation of relief for three years.
The Minister said the Muslim and Sikh families who have migrated from Kashmir and are registered with Relief Organization are entitled for all benefits which are otherwise available to Kashmiri Pandit migrants under PM’s rehabilitation package.
The Minister said that out of 542 Hindu religious places in Kashmir, 185 have either been damaged or are in dilapidated condition. However, the Minister while referring to the inputs received from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, no land and other properties belonging to religious places have been encroached upon or sold in any district of Kashmir Valley.
The Minster said that 40,857 Kashmiri migrants are registered at Jammu while 869 Pandit families are still residing in Valley. Besides, 21,333 families are registered in Delhi and other parts of the country. He said out of 40,857 families 36,839 are Hindus, 1780 Sikh, 2233 Muslims.
The Minister in a written reply to another question said only one Kashmiri Pandit family has returned since 2009 to Valley.
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