Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: A delegation of PoJK refugees led by “Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee” President, Gurdev Singh and Advocate Amrik Singh today called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and conveyed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having announced the biggest ever financial package for Jammu & Kashmir and also having earmarked fund for PoJK refugees. They also lauded the efforts of Dr Jitendra Singh and said, this package was possible because of his untiring efforts to project their cause in the true perspective.
In a meeting lasting over 45 minutes, the members of delegation discussed the various modalities of the package with Dr Jitendra Singh and offered their suggestions about the mode of utilization of the funds.
A three-page memorandum presented to Dr Jitendra Singh stated that all the Central and State governments in the past had left the issue of refugees unresolved, but Prime Minister Modi’s announcement during his visit to the State on 7th November has kindled a ray of hope for all the displaced persons.
Gurdev Singh had a special word of appreciation for Dr Jitendra Singh whom he described as one who understood the ground realities better than anybody else and therefore, could also project the same at the Centre in the right perspective.
Speaking to the media after presenting the memorandum, Gurdev Singh said, they had full faith in the sincere approach of the Modi government towards the cause of refugees. But, he insisted that the State government should also ensure that the funds earmarked for them are utilized judiciously and in a fair manner. For this purpose, they also demanded that the State authorities should involve representatives of PoJK refugees in the process of disbursement of these funds so that there is absolute transparency and accountability.
Gurdev Singh also recalled that Modi had, during his 7th November visit, promised to give more funds provided the State utilized the present package properly and offered the due account of it. He, therefore, urged upon the State government to utilize the amount and submit utilization certificate before the Central Government so that more funds can be demanded from the Centre because the present amount made available does not seem to be sufficient enough.
He also demanded that proper projection be made to the Centre about nearly 5300 families of PoJK refugees settled outside the State and about 9500 families who were not considered for ex-gratia grant decided in 1960 on certain conditions which were, however, later on, waived off in the year 2000.
Dr Jitendra Singh assured the leaders of the delegation that their cause is very high on the agenda of the Modi government and the Prime Minister is very clear about providing whatever help and assistance required for fair redressal of their grievances. He hoped that, as desired by the Prime Minister, the State government will utilize the package discreetly and maintain an account of it.
Prominent among those present included S. Rashpal Singh,S. Sarwan Singh, S. Mohinder Singh. S. Santhok Singh, S. K.D. Singh and several others.
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