Amount for kin of those killed by ultras doubled
Manmohan-led Cong Govt approved Scheme in 2008
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 24: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has put on hold a proposal to double the scholarship and other benefits for the orphans of slain militants but has given nod for enhancing the same amount in favour of the kin of those killed by the militants. An official document released by the J&K Government today revealed that the proposal to grant scholarships to orphans of killed militants was approved by the Congress Government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh at the Centre in 2008 as part of ‘Confidence Building Measures’ recommended by the Prime Minister’s Round Table Conference.
Official sources told the Excelsior that scholarship to orphans of slain militants was being paid since 2008 following approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, which was held by the Congress in Dr Manmohan Singh’s regime at the rate of Rs 750 per month which was at par with what was being paid to the kin of those killed by the militants.
Recently, the J&K Rehabilitation Council had mooted proposal to double the amount in both categories as Rs 750 per month scholarship was fixed way back in 2008. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs headed by BJP leader Amit Shah has doubled the amount for kin of those killed by the militants but has so far not approved the similar enhancement in favour of orphans of slain militants.
As per the proposal approved in October 2008 when there was Congress Government at the Centre and Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Government had approved Scheme titled `Scholarship to orphans of killed militants (without discrimination) at the rate of Rs 750 per month. The scheme was applicable to orphans of militants studying in schools up to the age of 18 years extendable to 21 years in exceptional cases.
In addition, scholarship for professional studies in the shape of reimbursement of tuition fees at Rs 5000 per annum and maintenance allowance for hostellers at Rs 7000 per annum is also provided to orphans of slain militants undergoing professional studies, as per an official document of the Rehabilitation Council of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has deleted a chart of 27 Online services in which scholarship to orphans of killed militants was listed at S No. 16 from the twitter. The scheme has invited criticism from various political parties and social organizations.
An official document released today by the Government revealed that the scheme for providing scholarship to orphans of killed militants was approved way back in 2008 when the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh headed Congress-led UPA Government had set up five Working Groups on Jammu and Kashmir. There was Congress-PDP coalition Government in J&K headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed from November 2002 to November 2005 while for next two and half years the Government was led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, presently Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
“As a part of Confidence Building Measure recommended by Prime Minister’s Round Table Conference, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, had sanctioned an amount of Rs 19 crore in October 2008 as one time measure from Security Related Expenditure (Relief and Rehabilitation) to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to place the same as Corpus Fund of J&K Rehabilitation Council and utilize the interest generated from this amount for providing scholarship to orphans of killed militants,” the document revealed.
It said the amount of Rs 19 crore has been deposited with J&K Finance Department and J&K Rehabilitation Council utilizes only interest accrued on the same for payment of scholarships and other benefits.
It added that number of children who benefitted from the scheme stood at 1559 during 2019-20.
The orphans who are pursuing higher/professional studies are provided tuition fees of Rs 5000 per annum and hostel fees at Rs 7000 per annum.
It said the objective of the scheme was to provide an opportunity to orphans of killed militants to come into mainstream of society failing which they could also be alienated and be vulnerable to supervision and influence of militants.
“This category of people are sufferers of militancy and have lost their bread earners. So they need support from the Government for sustenance and to bring them into mainstream,” the document said.
When approached for comments Principal Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department, Shailendra Kumar said this is an old scheme.
J&K Rehabilitation Council Executive Director Ishfaq Ahmed Wani told the Excelsior that following enhancement of amount by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the kin of persons killed by the militants will now get Rs 1500 per month while orphans of killed militants are getting only Rs 750 per month, which was fixed way back in 2008.
Wani said they have recommended doubling the amount for both categories i.e. the kin of those killed by militants and orphans of slain militants. However, the MHA had doubled the amount for one category. The enhancement for second category is pending, he added.
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