Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 15: The rehabilitation package for the refugees, which is facing one after another road block during the past quite long time, is likely to cross the main hurdle tomorrow when it will be again taken up for consideration by the State Cabinet. Moreover, the long pending issue of regularization of over 42000 casual and need-based workers engaged in different departments may come up for discussion if consensus reached in the Cabinet Sub-Committee, which is meeting ahead of Cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet may also order transfers and postings in Police Department.
No doubt, the package for the rehabilitation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 is to be recommended to the Union Government for funding on the analogy of displaced persons of Kashmir valley, the State Government could not complete its responsibility of forwarding the same to Centre till date. This was mainly because of differences between Coalition partners-National Conference and Congress on certain issues.
Earlier, differences between Coalition partners created roadblock in preparation of the Rehabilitation Package for these refugees and when the Revenue Department prepared the same and submitted to the General Administration Department the package was referred to the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to look into the recommendations of Justice Sageer Committee.
Following tough stance by the Congress Ministers, the Revenue Department, on the directions of Cabinet, moved fresh memorandum but National Conference again acted as stumbling block in the Cabinet meeting held on July 16 and on the intervention of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah it was decided to place the Rehabilitation Package in the next Cabinet meeting for clearance on top priority.
Prior to Cabinet meeting scheduled for September 4, 2014, Coordination Committee of the Coalition Partners met and after hectic discussion ironed out differences and paved the way for clearance of the package. But, due to flood fury the focus of entire Government got shifted to relief and rehabilitation and now the Rehabilitation Package is coming up for the consideration of Cabinet tomorrow.
“If the Coalition partners remain committed to the decision taken in the Coordination Committee, the package would be approved by the Cabinet tomorrow and then forwarded to the Union Government for funding on the analogy of the similar package for the Displaced Persons of Kashmir valley”, sources said.
The Revenue Department has proposed payment of ex-gratia compensation in favour of Displaced Persons at the rate of Rs 25 lakh per family against the losses suffered by them on account of immovable and moveable properties left out in Pakistan.
It has also been proposed that recommendation be made to the Government of India for providing job reservation in paramilitary forces/army and other Central Government services and reservation in professional colleges outside the State for the children of PoK refugees.
In response to a question, sources said that since Constitutional Amendment is required to consider benefits for West Pakistan refugees at par with PoK refugees, the Revenue Department has suggested that Union Government should be requested to provide at least reservation in Central Government jobs and professional colleges outside Jammu and Kashmir for these refugees.
According to the sources, the issue regarding regularization of 42,000 casual, need based and CP workers engaged in various Government departments may come up for discussion in the Cabinet if consensus is reached in the Cabinet Sub-Committee, which will meet prior to Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held at 11 am.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee even met yesterday and after detailed deliberations, it passed directions to the Principal Secretary, Finance, B B Vyas to furnish requisite details to finalize modalities for regularization of these workers.
“The fate of such a large number of workers is hanging in balance despite the fact that all the concerned departments have submitted the lists albeit not within the specified time-frame in response to a directive issued by the General Administration Department early June this year”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Cabinet in its meeting held on June 3, 2014 had decided that the casual, need based and temporary workers engaged by various departments could be regularized in three phases. The first phase would include the workers engaged from 1994 to 2005, the second phase would take the workers of 2005 to 2009 and in the third phase, the workers engaged beyond 2009 could be regularized.
The Cabinet would also order enhancement of Ration Money of the Police personnel and consider recommendations of Expert Panel on creation of additional administrative units in the “Left Out” areas as reportedly exclusively by EXCELSIOR in today’s edition.
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