Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 9: The State Government has drafted a package of Rs 7000 crore for one time settlement of the PoJK refugees.
According to highly placed sources, the State Government informed this to the visiting Parliamentary Sub Committee which was on three days tour of the State from November 5 to November 7.
Sources informed that the package envisaged one time settlement of the refugees. The cash compensation for left over properties, reservation of Government jobs, reservation in professional colleges, compensation against land deficiency as per market value, conferring of ownership rights/tenancy rights on land allotted to Chhamb refugees, disposal of pending applications for compensation etc have been incorporated in the package, sources added.
Sources said that Revenue Minister Aijaz Ahmed Khan had interacted with various groups of displaced persons from PoJK which was followed by the interaction between officers of the Revenue Department, divisional administration and various organizations of refugees. The package has been drafted after taking the refugees organizations in confidence, sources added.
The draft is ready and it will be placed before the State Cabinet soon for its consent to be submitted to Union Government for approval and sanction of funds, sources said, adding that suggestions in the package have also been made to provide all the facilities to the West Pak refugees as well till the issue of their citizenship rights is settled.
Sources said that some delegations of the refugees of PoJK also called on Minister of the Revenue, Aijaz Ahmed Khan today and he discussed the issue with them threadbare. Mr Khan told them that the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and the Revenue Secretary have also briefed the members of PSC about the same during their visit to the State.
When contacted Mr Khan told Excelsior that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz who is chairman of the Coordination Committee have already been apprised about the problems of the PoJK refugees and it was decided that a comprehensive package will be prepared and submitted to Union Government for their one time settlement.
Mr Khan said the MPs and MLAs from Jammu led by Prof Soz had also called on Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and requested him for providing of financial package for the rehabilitation of the displaced persons of 1947 from PoJK/ West Pakistan and 1965 as well as 1971 Chhamb refugees to address their long pending demands.
He said the officers of Home Ministry have already held several meetings with officers of J&K Government and Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Secretary to Revenue Department attended these meetings. He said the proposal will be sent to the Home Ministry very soon.
Meanwhile, Dr Narinder Singh, convener PoJK Refugees Sangarsh Morcha said that mere framing of draft proposal is not enough and the State Government should pursue Centre to get the package sanctioned as the hapless refugees from PoJK were deprived of their rights since 1947.
He however expressed his satisfaction over the step of the State Government and welcomed it saying that they should follow it vigorously to get it sanctioned from the Centre.
BJP Sharnarthi Cell Prabhari Pt Ashok Kumar Khajuria said that Rs 7000 crore package was not enough to cater to the needs of 40,000 refugee families from PoJK after a gap of over 60 years.
He said there are 31,619 registered families as well as 9,500 unregistered families and the draft proposal was not sufficient for them. He demanded a package of Rs 20,000 crore be sanctioned for one time settlement of PoJK refugees.
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