|
The following is the statement made by Shri Shivraj V. Patil, Union Home Minister, in the Lok Sabha today in response to calling attention notice tabled by Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, MP regarding the need to provide financial assistance to the displaced families of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and steps taken by the government in this regard: -
“Terrorism in the State of Jammu and Kashmir during 1990’s led to the migration of Kashmiris from the Valley to Jammu, Delhi and other states. There are 55476 registered Kashmiri migrant families, out of whom 34088 families are residing in Jammu, 19338 families in Delhi and 2050 families in other States. 5778 families in Jammu and 230 families in Delhi are staying in government managed camps, which have been provided with facilities like water, electricity, sanitation, etc.
The Central and State Governments have taken all possible measures to ensure that the needy migrant families are provided with a reasonable level of sustenance and support. Monthly cash relief of Rs.3000/- per family and basic dry rations are being provided to 14869 families in Jammu. In Delhi, 4100 families are being provided monthly cash relief of Rs.3200/- per family for non-camp migrants and Rs.2400/- per family along with basic dry rations for those living in camps. Other State Governments/UT Administrations, where the Kashmiri migrants have been staying, have been providing relief to migrants in accordance with the scales fixed by them.
An expenditure of about Rs.50.00 crores is incurred annually towards providing cash assistance and rations to the migrants at Jammu. The total expenditure incurred for providing relief since 1990 is Rs.586.37 crores. The expenditure is reimbursed to the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir by the Central Government under Security Related Expenditure. The expenditure for providing relief to the migrants at Delhi is borne by the Government of NCT of Delhi, and is about Rs.15.00 crores annually.
In addition to relief, the details of expenditure incurred since 1990 for providing infrastructural facilities in the migrant camps at Jammu are:
(in Rs. crores)
i) Civic amenities - Rs.13.28
ii) Grant for camps/schools - Rs.59.20
iii) Construction of One-room tenements - Rs.20.15
iv) Improvement in infrastructure - Rs. 5.49
-----------
Total Rs.98.12
-----------
Government have directed all universities and the All India Council for Technical Education to ensure that educational concessions including extension in date of admission by about 30 days, relaxation in cut-off percentage upto 10% subject to minimum eligibility requirement, increase in intake capacity upto 5% - course-wise, reservation of at least one seat in merit quota in technical/professional institutions and waiving of domicile requirements are extended to Kashmiri migrant students during the academic session 2005-06.
In order to enable the safe and honourable return of migrants to their native places in the Valley, Government of India have approved, on an experimental basis, a project for Rs.20.00 crores for the construction of 200 two-bed room flats at Sheikpora, District Budgam. A grant of Rs.10.00 crores has been provided to the State Government for the reconstruction and renovation of houses and shrines at Kheer Bhavani and Mattan. The State Government have completed construction of 18 three-room flats at Mattan for temporary stay of Kashmiri Migrants till they are able to return to their houses in the Valley, utilising an amount of Rs.1.08 crores. At Kheer Bhavani, an expenditure of Rs.7.30 crores has been incurred for construction of 100 one-room tenements and other facilities.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singhji visited Jammu & Kashmir in November 2004 and announced a Reconstruction Plan of Rs. 24,000 crores for the State. The Plan includes initiatives for strengthening the economic and social infrastructure of the State with a thrust on employment and income generation in sectors like tourism, agriculture and food processing industries. The Plan also provides for the relief and rehabilitation of migrant families by way of construction of two-room tenements for all families residing in the camps in the Jammu region and at Delhi. In accordance with the announcements of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Central Assistance of Rs. 32.00 crores and Rs. 30.00 crores under State Plan have been provided during 2004-05 and 2005-06, respectively. In Delhi, 234 families have been allotted DDA flats at concessional rates.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister also announced the constitution of an inter-ministerial team to prepare a rehabilitation plan for Kashmiri migrants, particularly to cover their development needs, especially those related to the living conditions in the camps, the means of livelihood, education, health and security of women. The team has recommended various measures inter-alia construction of two-room tenements, creation of 1000 job opportunities, improvement/provision of infrastructure in Kashmir Valley for facilitating the return of migrants, health care, provision of soft loans, entrepreneurial development programmes and setting up of 1000 cottage/small scale industries. Necessary action has been initiated to implement the recommendations”.
OK/AD/SK
|
