Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 23: A delegation of West Pakistan refugees led by its President Labha Ram Gandhi today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in presence of Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed their pending issues. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi was also present during the meeting.
Labha Ram Gandhi explained to Rajnath Singh and Dr Jitendra Singh the difficulties being faced by West Pakistan refugees living in Jammu region on account of non-issuance of SC / ST / OBC certificates to them by the State Government. As a result of this, he alleged that in spite of the Central Government having started special recruitment drive for them, they are not able to avail the benefit of reservation.
Similarly, Labha Ram also complained that the benefits of several pro-poor economic schemes started by the Modi Government could not be availed of by his community because the execution of many schemes was done by State Government which does not recognize them as state subjects.
He said, it is an irony that even after nearly seven decades, they are still deprived of citizenship rights as a result of which they neither have the right to vote in the State Assembly nor their children can seek admission in Government education institutions or apply for Government jobs in the State Government.
Labha Ram also pleaded for appointing a Nodal Officer who could coordinate between the refugees and the Government and facilitate the disposal of their issues.
A memorandum was also presented by the delegation to Rajnath Singh in presence of Dr Jitendra Singh.
Rajnath Singh assured the representatives of West Pakistan refugees that the Government is seriously working on all the issues raised by them which had already been taken note of during the visit of the All-Party Delegation to Jammu on 5th of this month. He said, very soon, the Home Ministry will come out with a mechanism for redressal of the problems faced by the refugee community.
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