Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: BJP members S Charanjeet Singh Khalsa and Ramesh Arora today demanded that minority families staying in Kashmir since 1989-90 and keeping the flag up despite all odds should also be provided special package as those migrated to Jammu or different places are getting relief money, ration and jobs besides other facilities.
The issue was raised by Charanjeet Singh during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council today. Several other members even those from opposition supported the BJP member on this issue. Singh said many Sikh families stayed back while thousands of KP families migrated to Jammu and other places after 1990 turmoil. He said why these families have been excluded from the special package/ relief or job. Rather they should get special incentives. Jugal Kishore Sharma from Congress said that these families should be provided more facilities as compradee to those who migrated from there.
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Bukhari while responding to the main question and subsequent supplementaries of the members informed the House that Government provides support to all those who are affected by militancy related incidents by way of loss of property, life or migration.
He further said that there are total 1758 Sikh families who have been registered with relief organization till September 2016 out of which 1399 are registered under non-relief category.
Bukhari said the incentives provided to the Sikh migrants are at par with the other Kashmiri migrants which includes Rs 2500 per soul per month subject to the maximum limit of Rs 10,000 per month and free ration at the prescribed scale of 9 kg rice per soul, 2 kg atta per soul and 01 kg sugar per family.
He said currently there is no separate package/proposal to provide incentives to Sikh community or any other community members who have not migrated outside the valley due to turmoil.
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