Enhanced relief to have effect from Aug 2016
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 23: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs headed by Rajnath Singh today announced simplification of procedure for payment of compensation to family members of Pakistan shelling and firing victims and also removed the condition of keeping some amount in the form of Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs).
A formal order to this effect was issued today by the Home Ministry, which has resulted into implementation of one more out of series of welfare measures announced by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his two day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 7 and 8.
An official statement issued by the Home Ministry today said the increased compensation for killing of civilians from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and waiving off the conditions linked to payment of relief will have retrospective effect from August 24, 2016, which means that next of kin of all those killed in Pakistan shelling and firing from 24.8.2016 will be entitled to Rs 5 lakh relief.
“The enhanced relief will be available to the border dwellers, who have lost their kith and kin in the firing since August 24, 2016 ,” the statement said, adding the back-dated effect to the scheme has been given as the Union Cabinet had approved the enhanced compensation for Pakistan shelling and firing victims on that day.
The MHA statement said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has simplified the scheme of ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the civilian victims of cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir. The cash relief will now be credited by the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the bank accounts of next of kin in case of death or the victims of more than 50 per cent disability, it added.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs will bear entire expenditure of the payment of compensation to Pakistan’s shelling and firing victims on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). The compensation paid by the State Government to Pakistan shelling and firing victims will be reimbursed by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE), sources said.
In another decision taken in the interest of shelling and firing victims, the Home Ministry has waived off certain conditions linked to payment of compensation to dependents of shelling and firing victims. Earlier, a part of the amount paid to next of kin of firing victims used to be deposited in the banks as Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR), which could be withdrawn by the family members after certain period of time.
In today’s order, the Ministry of Home Affairs has withdrawn this condition and entire amount now will be paid to the next of kin of the victims in one go.
“Ceiling of the ex-gratia cash relief of Rs 5 lakh, which will be paid to dependents of shelling and firing victims, include any amount if already disbursed to the next of kin of the victims under this Scheme,” the MHA statement said.
During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 7 and 8, Rajnath had announced increase in compensation for civilian killings on the borders due to Pakistan shelling and firing from Rs one lakh to Rs 5 lakh and for livestock from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. He had also announced withdrawal of ceiling of payment of compensation for only three cattle and announced that relief will be paid to the border dwellers for all cattle killed in shelling and firing. He had also announced five Bullet-Proof ambulances for the border areas.
Other major announcements made by Rajnath Singh during the visit for which the MHA has issued orders included payment of compensation of Rs 5.5 lakh to every family of West Pakistani refugees, increase in monthly relief of Kashmir and Jammu migrants from Rs 10,000 to Rs 13,000 per family and renovation of Jagti and Talwara migrant camps.
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