Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 29: The Union Government is seriously considering enhancement of monthly cash relief to Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants.
According to highly placed sources, the proposal in this regard will be sent to the Union Finance Ministry by the Home Ministry for approval soon. This was revealed in a high level meeting of the Steering Committee of the Union Home Ministry in Union Capital yesterday which was held to review the recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Home Ministry on Kashmiri migrants.
The meeting was chaired by Special Secretary Home Affairs Government of India and from the J&K Government it was attended by R K Goel, Principal Secretary Home, Arshad Ayub, Additional Secretary Home, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, R K Pandita besides Director MHA, GoI, Mr Karolis, and representatives of Delhi Government.
Sources said the meeting was informed that Union Government is seriously considering to enhance relief for Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants and a proposal in this regard will be submitted to Union Finance Ministry for approval soon as this is being the long standing demand of the people who were forced to migrate from hilly reaches of Jammu region due to militants killings.
These migrants are getting Rs 1600 as financial assistance with 11 kgs ration from Government at present. There are about 1039 registered families of Jammu migrants and over 400 families of unregistered migrants at present, sources added.
Sources said the rehabilitation of displaced people from Valley also figured in the meeting and in this regard the concerned Deputy Commissioners of respective districts in Kashmir Valley will be directed to identify the land for construction of clusters at various places besides expanding the present clusters.
Sources said the State Government has already decided to expand the migrant clusters at Vessu in Anantnag district of South Kashmir by adding 260 quarters at Vessu and also over 100 quarters at Sheikhpora Budgam in Central Kashmir.
Sources said the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill and constitution of the Shrine Board for the protection of Hindu shrines in Valley also figured in the meeting and the State Government was asked to examine the same as per the recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Sources said the State Government was also asked to expedite the process for appointment of remaining 3000 displaced youth under PM’s employment package out of 6000 posts for Kashmiri migrants which were announced by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in 2007. The GoI has agreed to provide funds for the same, sources added.
It may be recalled that out of 6000 job package announced by the former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the funds for 3000 posts appointed in the first phase were to be provided by the Central Government while for the remaining 3000 posts appointed under second phase the State Government had to arrange the resources. While the Union Government provided funds for the first phase and recruitment process was launched under which over 2000 displaced youth were appointed in different parts of the Valley, the State Government failed to arrange the resources for the remaining 3000 posts and the recruitment process has been delayed constantly.
However, now the Central Government has given a green signal to the State Government to go ahead with the recruitment process as the funds for the same will be made available by it, sources added.
Sources said the State Government was also asked to take a final decision on registration of genuine migrants whose cases are pending with the State Government.
Follow our WhatsApp channel