Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 4: Former MLC and JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma has regretted the Government’s anti-refugee orders putting them into great hardships and said that recent bifurcation of the PRO office and the Custodian EP Deptt is against the interests of 1947 from PoJK.
Reacting to the recent orders whereby the two departments of PRO and Custodian EP have been again bifurcated, the senior Congress leader has termed it totally against the interests of refugees. He said that it is for the first time after 1982 that such anti-refugee move has been done by the present Government. The order of winding up of the PRO Office by the then Govt was strongly opposed by the refugees organizations and Congress party and it was re-established & clubbed with Custodian Department.
Unfortunately, the present Govt is also resorting to such anti- refugee moves, as few days back this order was rectified and both offices were clubbed but again after a week, same thing has been repeated.
He said since thousands of families have been allotted EP lands while the rest of old records of their rehabilitation is under the control of PRO office, the bifurcation of the two departments, puts them to great hardships.
The Govt should consult the refugee organizations and refugee representatives before taking such decisions and sought review of the order in the larger interest of displaced community. He also favoured a Refugee Welfare Board headed by the Lt Governor to sort out various pending and ongoing issues of the displaced community including the issues of relief distribution and their rehabilitation.
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